First the Queensland team’s Origin invincibility fell in 2014, now their star Billy Slater could be eclipsed by NSW counterpart Josh Dugan – the man on a rapid upward curve after playing two of the best games of his career in the space of four days.

If current form is any indicator, the Canberra prodigy turned Dragons essential could well be on the way to Slater-like stardom – if he can behave himself. And that’s a big ‘if’.

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Slater, the six-time State of Origin champion and 2010 Wally Lewis Medallist has been the chief villain for every New South Wales player and fan since he debuted for the Maroons in 2004.

He has run through sky blue brick walls of men, jinked around flying defenders and leapt over giants.

Dugan, 25, was superb in his side’s narrow Origin I loss last week and then backed it up four days later in St George Illawarra’s clinical trouncing of Cronulla.

He put in his own superhero showing.

Josh Dugan done some growing up since his early days at the Raiders in 2008.

His performance for the Blues was special given he was stepping in for the mercurial Jarryd Hayne, who watched the game at 4am American time in his new life as budding NFL star.

Hayne’s average for metres gained per game is more than any other player in Origin history and no one needs to be reminded of his brilliance.

While NSW supporters may have wondered what life after Hayne was going to hold, they no longer need to worry – because Dugan has a newfound sense of maturity and consistency to go with his trademark X-factor.

His charge down the field and spectacular kick to a rampaging Josh Morris in the series opener was evidence of that.

Dugan put the kick on a dime for his teammate and later reflected, “The bounce of the ball went his way, which was good”.

He was being modest suggesting it was luck.

Dugan proved that he has just as much of an appetite for owning a big game as Slater and Hayne, and his influence on the match showed he can emulate their desire in the Origin pressure-cooker.

It was somewhat poetic that when Dugan put in the audacious kick to send Morris over, Slater’s tackle was too late to affect its result.

Bad boy redemption

Many of NSW’s fans will be happy that Dugan has put a controversial past behind him. It’s no shock his on-field output has surged.

In March 2013, while playing for the Canberra Raiders, Dugan and teammate Blake Ferguson were suspended for a late-night drinking session that resulted in noise complaints to police.

Josh Dugan has made some big changes since he became a Dragon. Photo: Getty

Dugan and Ferguson posted a photo of themselves on Instagram, infamously featuring the duo drinking Barcadi Breezers on a house rooftop.

The suspension turned into a sacking – this episode was the final straw after a series of breaches.

Soon after, Dugan went on a sensational social media rant against Raiders fans, which resulted in him losing a contract offer from the Brisbane Broncos.

He posted a photo of himself and a friend shirtless on Instagram and then became embroiled in arguments with Raiders fans in the comments section.

One of his (edited) responses said, “I’d hate to be ya nuffie. At least my dog doesn’t speak up like you ya loud mouth … who are ya by the way? I could never play another game of NRL and I’ve still accomplished more than you.”

Dugan was thrown a mid-season lifeline by St George Illawarra, however, and since then his performances at club level, and for the Blues, have been exemplary.

He’s impressed in both his preferred fullback position, and in the centres.

Saints coach Paul McGregor described Dugan’s redemption after his performance for the Dragons on Sunday backing up from the gruelling series opener.

“He’s a special talent,” McGregor said.

“His willingness to compete as hard as he does on every play for 80 minutes is a real credit to the guy, and to do it just four days after Origin.

“That’s the big change in Josh, he is not worried about the perception, he is only worried about what he can contribute to the football team.

“That is a huge difference in a man.”

Whatever happens in this Origin series, it looks clear that Dugan’s difference might be a beneficial one for the Blues in the long term – even Slater-like.