Brett White says there was never a moment he sat back and thought he had something special in Canberra Raiders sensation Nick Cotric.
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He just always knew.
Raiders assistant coach White oversaw Cotric's meteoric rise through the under 20s ranks when he was still too young to sip on a beer after the game.
Now the 19-year-old will look to move one step closer to making first grade history when the Raiders host the North Queensland Cowboys at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.
Cotric is riding an eight-game try-scoring streak - just two games short of the all-time record held by former Manly halfback Phil Blake, who scored in 10 consecutive games in 1983.
"He used to always be a very talented player coming through. The thing I’ve always said about Nick is he is a better person than he is a footballer, and he is a wonderful footballer," White said.
"He’s come through the junior grades through the system and he has just excelled at every level coming through, and it all through him just putting in the hard work, being a really good person and buying into what the Raiders are about.
"When you’ve got wonderfully talented athletes that work hard and are wonderful people that buy into the club values, that’s a recipe for success for a young bloke."
Cotric will start at fullback in the absence of regular Raiders custodian Jack Wighton, with the NRL not expecting to make a decision on a potential extension on the six-game ban handed to him by the club for his assault case until State of Origin comes to a close.
Brad Abbey impressed in his chance to deputise for Wighton but a concussion has opened the door for Cotric to make a name for himself at the back in the top grade.
White expects Cotric will have little issue slotting in at the back as the Raiders look to keep their season alive, because the rising star has never shied away from a challenge.
That's exactly why he has starred at fullback, on the wing, and in the centres at various levels.
"He’s come through the junior grades and he has played quite a bit of fullback. He’s just got to take some time there but he is only young and he’s got a lot of time ahead of him in the game," White said.
"He’s such a good kid and he buys into anything the club is about. He’d be happy anywhere."
Cotric's rise in the NRL has been so impressive he was on the cusp of wearing a sky blue jersey that could have seen him lift the State of Origin shield with the rest of NSW's baby Blues at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
Instead he just missed out, but he was with the squad as 19th man for the series opener that ultimately set up a drought-breaking triumph.
Such was Cotric's stellar run of form, Blues coach Brad Fittler admitted leaving the Raiders winger out was one of the toughest calls he had to make ahead of game one.
But White believes it is just a matter of time before Cotric gets his chance at interstate level.
"That’s just a boost in confidence for him," White said.
"The exposure to the experienced players that he would have had in that camp, it’s just going to add to his growth.
"Going into those camps and watching how the best footballers are and how they go about their business, it’s great experience for him."
When the time comes, Cotric certainly won't let anyone down. Rest assured he will be giving Maroon defensive lines nightmares - just like he has been for the Green Machine.
