With an unforgettable moniker like "Cooper Cronk", it wouldn't be that surprising if "versatility" actually was the middle name of the Melbourne Storm halfback.

In actual fact, it's Patrick, but the Brisbane-bred playmaker is desperate to remind Queensland selectors his skills go far beyond those of a standard number seven as the Origin opener looms on May 21.

At 178 centimetres and 88 kilograms, Cronk's offer to pack down in the front row probably won't convince the Maroons selection panel to throw him in against the Blues' big boppers.

But those are the lengths to which the former St Laurence's rugby star will go if it means ticking the final box in his short but glittering career.

"Like every other player in the competition, if they wanted you to play in the front row or at fullback, you'd do it," Cronk said.

In many ways the forgotten man of the representative arena, Cronk has a burning desire to etch his name on the Origin mantle after a brief flirtation with the Kangaroos at the end of last season gave him a seductive taste of higher honours.

Cronk impressed when he deputised for the injured Johnathan Thurston last October, helping to orchestrate a 58-0 walloping over the Kiwis in Wellington.

Thurston has retained his spot for the Centenary Test next Friday and, barring injury, will continue his pairing with Darren Lockyer in the Queensland halves.

But the departure of Shaun Berrigan from the Queensland bench has opened the way for Cronk, 24, to power towards his Origin debut.

While the 2006 Dally M Halfback of the Year is fully entrenched as one of the NRL's top three number sevens, it is his record as a genuine utility that could tip Maroons' selectors in his favour as they hunt for Berrigan's successor.

While selectors are adamant they aren't looking for a clone of former Bronco Berrigan, now playing in Hull, they were huge fans of his bulldog tenacity off the bench, from fullback to lock and everything in between.

Prior to cementing the Storm's halfback spot - from which he drove them to the 2007 premiership - Cronk was Melbourne's Mr Fix-it in the shadow of incumbent half Matt Orford.

"I was a utility down here when Matt Orford was here. I played a bit of hooker, I played five-eighth when Scott Hill was injured at times. I was a bit of a stop-gap," Cronk said.

"I never got a chance to lock down a spot until he left. That was me from my debut for a couple of seasons after that."

Cronk faces a tough battle to fill the vacancy from the likes of North Queensland's Aaron Payne and Matt Bowen, along with Brisbane's PJ Marsh.

Bowen played strongly in the losing game three last year but tends to swing in and out of favour with selectors, while Marsh has battled injury since his move to Red Hill.

Cronk said he would love to be part of Queensland's tilt at a third successive Origin series win, which is likely to include Storm team-mates Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Cameron Smith and Mick Crocker.

"Selectors will choose the right mix for the Queensland team. The players have done an outstanding job in the last couple of years but I'd love to be a part of things like that in the future," Cronk said.

Queensland's chairman of selectors, Des Morris, said Cronk's toil in various positions around the park during his early tenure for the Storm had not been forgotten.

"We've got three or fours guys we are looking at for that position. He's definitely one of them," Morris said.

"We've got to look at the make-up of the side and who's available at the time. But Cooper will certainly come into calculations. He's certainly done well last year in the finals and played the game against New Zealand. He's a very good player.

"He can play hooker, half, five-eighth ... they are all important roles. Also he's very sharp and he would give us some momentum off the bench as well. He will certainly come into consideration."