Canberra Raiders five-eighth Terry Campese did what any good son would when he learnt he had been selected in the NSW State of Origin team last night he called his mum.
Then he called his good mate and Raiders teammate Joel Monaghan, who was a shock omission from the Blues side.
Campese is one of eight debutants NSW selectors have tasked with stopping Queensland from winning a record fourth consecutive Origin series, the others being James McManus, Michael Jennings, Glenn Stewart, Robbie Farah, Ben Creagh, Michael Weyman and Justin Poore.
Manly back-rower Stewart's Origin debut, however, is under threat after he was charged with a dangerous throw by the NRL match review panel yesterday.
Campese, who returned to form in the Raiders' 26-point win over the Warriors on Sunday, said he couldn't wait to make his debut at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium next Wednesday.
''It's every kid's dream to play Origin and just to be told that I'll get a go is an awesome feeling,'' the 24-year-old said. ''It's definitely the pinnacle, you can tell just by watching it just how much faster it is."
NSW: Kurt Gidley (capt), Jarryd Hayne, Jamie Lyon, Michael Jennings, James McManus, Terry Campese, Peter Wallace, Brent Kite, Robbie Farah, Luke Bailey, Ben Creagh, Luke O'Donnell, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Craig Wing, Justin Poore, Glenn Stewart, Michael Weyman.
More on Campese's call-up in today's Canberra Times
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