Stat Attack: Corey Oates proves his worth as a winger

Brisbane winger Corey Oates made a short-lived transition into the back row at the start of 2018 but a mammoth match-winning effort on Thursday night against South Sydney proves his best spot remains on the flank.

According to NRL.com Stats, Oates's 225 metres was the third-biggest single game haul by a winger this year while his nine tackle busts and three line breaks take him to 41 busts and seven breaks for the season - both the most by any winger.

His nine busts was the fifth most in a single game by a winger this year, just trailing his own 10 busts (fourth best) from round four.

His aggregate of 936 metres is fifth among all wingers so far in the 2018 Telstra Premiership.

He may yet make it as an NRL back-rower but for now it looks like his best spot remains on the wing. Such is his form he may even put his name forward to Queensland coach Kevin Walters - among Dane Gagai, Darius Boyd and Valentine Holmes - when it comes time to pick players to fill the spots on the Maroon flanks for Origin one.