Canterbury Bulldogs captain Josh Jackson has backed Josh Addo-Carr to make a NSW Blues State of Origin return after he put together a two-try performance during the club's loss to the Penrith Panthers at the foot of the mountains on Friday evening.
Addo-Carr being left out of Brad Fittler's New South Wales Origin side was one of the more controversial calls, alongside the dropping of Manly Sea Eagles' lock forward Jake Trbojevic.
The Canterbury winger had a slow start to the season, but has now managed eight tries in his last seven games. Canterbury have won just three matches from 13 games to start the season, however, Addo-Carr has picked his game up in recent weeks, and it raised eyebrows when he was left out of Fittler's side for Game 1, with Sydney Roosters' star Daniel Tupou recalled.
Speaking at the post-game press conference, Jackson said he was a little disappointed at the start of the week, but "you wouldn't have known he missed out" for the most part.
“He was great this week. You wouldn’t have known he missed out on it.
“He is always energetic and we saw that again tonight.
“He chases everything and he competes and that’s why he is such a good player.
“I know he was a little bit disappointed at the start of the week, but if he keeps performing like that he is going to put pressure on the players that are in there. He was fantastic.”
Despite the Bulldogs ultimately falling 30 points to 18, it may have been Addo-Carr's best performance of the season as he scored his third double. It followed earlier efforts against the Broncos and Roosters, with his two tries against the tri-colojurs in Round 8 leading to a rare win for the now Mick Potter-coached side.
Adding to his two tries on Friday, Addo-Carr had 172 metres and four tackle busts.
When asked if Addo-Carr could gain a recall, Jackson was quick to agree.
“Like I said, you know what you are going to get from him every week," Jackson added.
“He is high energy and he is competitive so that’s what Origin is all about for me.”
Addo-Carr has played 139 first grade games, while the 26-year-old Blacktown-born winger has managed 12 games for the Blues since making his Origin debut in 2018.
