Better known as a defensive specialist, Cooper turned it on in attack as the Dragons bombarded the Cowboys' right-side defence with four of the home side's five tries.

Cooper nabbed a double to remind NSW selectors of his worth as the Blues look to rebound from their Origin I loss.

And with NSW's game-one backs James McManus, Jamie Lyon and Michael Jennings all in doubt with injuries, Cooper may find himself with a few familiar faces alongside him at ANZ Stadium on June24 with winger Brett Morris turning in another sparkling display and Origin incumbent Ben Creagh again dominant.

''It's the best game I've seen him play, but I knew it was coming,'' Dragons coach Wayne Bennett said of Cooper.

''He just hasn't been where we want him to be but I just didn't want him to lose confidence in himself and I just said something about it during the week.

''I just thought he was pretty ready for a really big game.''

Cooper admitted the disappointment of missing out on NSW selection for the series opener had hurt, but denied it had been the catalyst for his breakout game against the Cowboys.

''My form hasn't been great this year ... I was keen to get out here today and have a big game,'' Cooper said.

''I'm always trying to do something in attack and when it comes off like today it's a great feeling.''

Cooper wasted little time in getting into the game as he set up Morris for a try in the third minute before coming up with a brilliant angled run for his first four-pointer for an early double blow.

The Cowboys hit back when Ty Williams made the most of a Wendell Sailor howler but Creagh again took it out to a 12-point lead when he scythed through before trampling over Matt Bowen.

The visitors came again when Luke O'Donnell and Willie Tonga each barged through three defenders to score determined tries to cut the margin to two.