Edrick Lee has been picked in the centres for Queensland, while prop Shannon Boyd will play off the bench for NSW as the teams compete for the Darren Lockyer Shield. Raiders under-20s coach Andrew Dunemann has also been given a nod as assistant coach of the Maroons, while half Mitch Cornish narrowly missed selection for the Blues.

''The one who's been a bit unlucky is Mitch Cornish'' Dunemann said.

''Although he hasn't been named, he's basically going to be 19th man [and go into camp with the NSW side].''

Lee, the cousin of Canberra NBA star Patrick Mills, said selection in his first representative team came out of the blue.

''I was actually very surprised … I just touched down in Canberra and got a phone call from our coach saying congratulations,'' the 19-year-old said.

Shannon Boyd was doing sheep work on his family farm in Cowra when he got the call up. The 125kg prop, who has represented NSW at under-18 level, will join NRL first-grade players Cheyse Blair (Eels), Matt Groat (Wests Tigers) and Boyd Cordner (Roosters) in the Blues' squad.

''It's a pretty intense sort of a game - you get a good crowd,'' Boyd said. ''It'll probably be a little bit quicker [than Toyota Cup] … it'll be a bit more physical too, being State of Origin.''

Dunemann said Queensland senior State of Origin coach Mal Meninga had a hand in selecting the young Maroons' team.

''He [Meninga] definitely sees it as a game that if they play well in, then further down the track if they start playing first grade, it'll give [Origin selectors] more confidence to pick them.'' Dunemann said.