EXCLUSIVE: Billy Slater admits State of Origin 'not beyond' Raiders gun after Vegas blitz

Queensland coach Billy Slater believes playing State of Origin is "not beyond" Raiders young gun Xavier Savage, but admitted there is still plenty of room to improve.

Savage starred for the Green Machine in their season opener on Sunday, scoring two tries in the 30-8 victory over the Warriors, including a long-range intercept.

He also finished with 219 run metres and seven tackle breaks at Allegiant Stadium.

READ MORE: Bellamy reveals brutal Slater jibe during salary cap scandal

READ MORE: Bennett weighs up tough selection battle after star's ban

READ MORE: Slater's blunt reality check amid grim Sharks trend

The 22-year-old has spent time in and out of the Canberra line-up since bursting onto the scene a number of years ago, but is now starting to find his feet according to Slater.

"He scored a couple of tries and was really strong with his game," the Maroons coach said on Nine's Billy Slater Podcast.

"Ricky Stuart spoke after the game and spoke about the time that he spent with Xavier.

"It hasn't all been roses, he's put him back into reserve grade and left him out of the team and helped develop his game and it's really paying dividends now.

"It looks like he's had a really big off-season. I thought he was great in that first game."

Savage has crossed for 26 tries in his 48 appearances to date in the top grade, settling into a wing role after beginning his NRL career as a livewire fullback.

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

While he remains well down the pecking order for an Origin call-up, Slater is hopeful of seeing Savage make that jump as he continues to develop.

"I hope that's a goal for Xavier, I really do," he said.

"He's a wonderful young player and Origin is not beyond him. It's certainly not right in front of him right now, but it's not beyond him in the future.

"I'm sure he grew up idolising and drawing inspiration from the Maroons team when he was a young fella. I hope that's a goal in the future for him and right now, he is ticking a few boxes for the Raiders.

"There's still some areas to his game that he needs to look at and work on. We all saw the intercept try and that was fantastic … but then he went for a couple of others towards the back-end of games that resulted in Warriors tries.

"It's a game of consistency and a game of learning and I'm sure Ricky Stuart and the coaching staff will be celebrating the good stuff Xavier did for the team in the reviews, but there are also a couple of things he needs to work on."

The likes of Xavier Coates, Selwyn Cobbo and Murray Taulagi are all ahead of Savage when it comes to the wing position at rep level.

Savage looks set to miss Canberra's round two game due to suspension, while skipper Joseph Tapine is also looking at a stint on the sidelines.