ST GEORGE Illawarra, the equal favourites for the NRL premiership after their heart-stopping one point win over the New Zealand Warriors, have been rewarded with
Darius Boyd chosen for the Australian side.
And another five players have been named in the Country team to play in the City-Country Origin match.
They are forwards Ben Creagh, Michael Weyman and Justin Poore and Beau Scott and Jamie Soward.
As well, outside back Jason Nightingale and injured lock Jeremy Smith are selected in the New Zealand 18-man squad for Friday night's Test at Suncorp Stadium.
For the battling Cronulla Sharks, captain Paul Gallen was again chosen for Australia, while back rower Anthony Tupou has lost his Test spot, but was instead chosen
in the Country squad.
Fellow forward Luke Douglas, outstanding in a beaten side, looks to have paid the price for the Sharks string of seven straight losses, with the big prop an unlucky omission
from the Country side.
The Australian side will be desperate to overturn last November's loss to the Kiwis in the World Cup final, with Boyd the ``new boy'' in an all-star Queensland back line
featuring captain Darren Lockyer, Billy Slater, Israel Folau, Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges and Johnathan Thurston.
Shortly after being selected, Boyd told the Leader he would be fit to play, after missing the Dragons' 12-11 victory at WIN Stadium with a quad injury.
The former Brisbane Bronco actually called coach Wayne Bennett and told him he was clear to play for the Dragons on Sunday morning, only for Bennett to call him
back to tell him he wouldn't be playing.
``I could have played but the doctor said not to risk it,'' Boyd said. ``Getting picked is awesome. It is something you dream about when you are growing up.''
Nightingale will play his third Test for New Zealand, while it will be Boyd's second for Australia, after playing against Papua New Guinea in the World Cup.
Bennett said on Sunday Boyd could be a Test player for ``the next decade'' and described Nightingale, the St George junior, as a player he ``enjoyed coaching''.
``Jason does some things that only people that know their way around the football field can do,'' Bennett said.
Boyd and Nightingale are unlikely to oppose each other, with Kiwis Sam Perrett or Lance Hohaia likely to play fullback and Manu Vatuvei a natural left winger.
Nightingale, restricted by injury to playing five matches this season, has blossomed in his new roving role.
``[Selection] is pretty exciting, especially considering the on and off start I've had to the year,'' he said.
``I've become a bit more versatile out of necessity in the past month.''
While New Zealand were the Cup champions, he said they were going to ``have a point to prove for the next 100 years''.
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