Rugged NZ Warriors forward Mitch Barnett has been named to the New South Wales State of Origin extended squad under new coach Mark Maguire.
Fresh from captaining his understrength club to a gutsy 24-20 win over the Dolphins, Barnett had more good news waiting for him in the changingroom, as coach Andrew Webster announced his Blues inclusion, sparking mob scenes among his teammates.
If he takes the field during the upcoming three-game series, Barnett will make his Origin debut.
The Warriors' most recent Origin representative was prop Jacob Lillyman in 2017.
"I just got a call from him [Maguire] and I'm on a plane tomorrow," said Barnett. "It's exciting, but it's a reward for my teammates helping me get there and holding me accountable each day.
"It was a nice moment for myself and my family - it's been something on the bucketlist for a while. I haven't given myself the opportunities early in my career through injury and ill-discipline, but excited for the challenge ahead and whatever that looks like for me."
Warriors coach Andrew Webster is proud of his player's achievement.
"He's worked so hard and been the glue the last two weeks, him and Dylan Walker," said Webster. "This guy deserves it - he works so hard.
"Some people are made for Origin and he's made for it - that is his arena. It's tough and hard, there's a lot of detail and you have to understand the gameplan, and get together quick.
"You have to be a good person and mix well, and he ticks all those boxes. The harder it gets, the better he gets."
The selection wasn't such good new for Warriors hooker Wayde Egan, whose early-season form had him in the mix for Maguire's first squad, but injury has undermined his credentials in recent weeks.
He was among the many frontline players missing from the Warriors line-up against the Dolphins, after leaving the field concussed against Penrith Panthers last week.
After taking over from Brad Fittler as coach, Maguire has named six debutants in his playing line-up - fullback Dylan Edwards, centre Joseph Suaali'i, winger Zac Lomax, lock Cam McInnes, second-rower Haumole Olakau'atu and prop Spencer Leniu.
Prop Jake Trbojevic takes over as captain, with incumbent James Tedesco left out altogether.
Queensland defended their Origin crown in 2023 2-1, but NSW took the third dead rubber 24-10. Eleven of those players have been dropped by Maguire.
Meanwhile, Maroons coach Billy Slater has stuck largely to the players that earned victory last year, with J'maine Hopgood the only debutant, pipping David Fifita for a bench spot.
NSW: 1-Dylan Edwards, 2-Brian To'o, 3-Stephen Crichton, 4-Joseph Suaali'i, 5-Zac Lomax, 6-Jarome Luai, 7-Nicho Hynes, 8-Jake Trbojevic (c), 9-Reece Robson, 10-Payne Haas, 11-Liam Martin, 12-Angus Crichton, 13-Cam McInnes, 14-Isaah Yeo, 15-Haumole Olakau'atu, 16-Spencer Leniu, 17-Hudson Young, 18-Matt Burton, 19-Luke Keary, 20-Mitch Barnett
Queensland: 1-Reece Walsh, 2-Xavier Coates, 3-Valentine Holmes, 4-Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 5-Murray Talagi, 6-Tom Dearden, 7-Daly Cherry-Evans (c), 8-Reuben Cotter, 9-Ben Hunt, 10-Lindsay Collins, 11-Jaydn Su'a, 12-Jeremiah Nanai, 13-Pat Carrigan, 14-Harry Grant, 15-Moeaki Fotuaika, 16-J'maine Hopgood, 17-Selwyn Cobbo, 18-Felise Kaufusi, 19-Bendan Piakura, 20-Ezra Mann
