Cronulla and NSW captain Paul Gallen says his Sharks teammates Andrew Fifita and James Maloney forced Blues selectors to pick them through their outstanding club form.
Cronulla have been rewarded for their outstanding early season form with three Sharks players named in the NSW team for State of Origin I.
Skipper Gallen, giant prop Fifita and returning five-eighth Maloney will all run out against Queensland in Sydney next Wednesday night after being chosen in Laurie Daley’s 19-man squad.
And Gallen, a 21-game Origin veteran, told The Leader his black, white and blue teammates more than deserved their shot in the sky blue of NSW.
“Andrew Fifita got to the point where they had no choice but to pick him,” he said.
“And that’s the way you want to be picked in any rep side.
“And Jimmy Maloney has been the same. I think without a doubt he has been the form half of the competition.
“There’s no doubt they both deserve their spot.”
Gallen, who will line up for his final Origin series, said he was happy with the strong NSW squad – particularly the forward pack that includes Gallen, Fifita, James Tamou, Aaron Woods, David Klemmer, Greg Bird and Tyson Frizell.
“Everyone’s in form, I don’t think there’s a player that’s here that doesn’t deserve to be,” he said.
“I’m very happy with the forward pack. It’s very powerful.
“When you look at the players who will probably be on the bench it looks like there will be three front rowers.
“They could all be starting players and they’ve all got minutes in them.
“I think it’s a strong squad all round.”
Blues coach Daley has named five debutants – Frizell, Matt Moylan, Josh Mansour, Adam Reynolds and Dylan Walker – in his extended squad.
NSW will be desperate to wrestle back the Origin shield after being thrashed 52-6 in the deciding game three in Brisbane last year.
Queensland have also won nine of the last 10 series’ but NSW will be buoyed that games one and three will be played in Sydney.