They have been two of the form players for their respective club sides and tonight Jack Bird and Tyson Frizell will get the chance to shine on the representative stage.
Cronulla centre Bird and St George Illawarra back-rower Frizell will make their State of Origin debuts for NSW as the Blues attempt to keep the series alive in game two in Brisbane.
Bird, the Dally M Rookie of the Year last season, has been a revelation since his first appearance for the Sharks, going from strength to strength after coach Shane Flanagan masterminded his switch to the centres this season.
The 21-year-old, who has battled rheumatoid arthritis since he was a teenager, will come off the bench for NSW after Blues centre Josh Morris was ruled out with a groin strain, with Manly’s Dylan Walker moving into the starting side.
Bird told Fairfax Media he thought his career might have been over before it even started.
“I can’t express how I feel right now,” he said.
“I’ve come a long way to get this jersey. I was so crook four or five years ago. But here I am today playing Origin, which I never thought of doing five years ago. I thought my footy career was over. In my head that’s what I thought.
“I grew up playing footy and that’s all I ever wanted to do. To be out of the game for a long period of time, it killed me. I had the urge to fight back and here I am today. It’s unbelievable. I think Dad teared up when I told him. It’s special for all of the family.
“At the end of my career hopefully I will look back and it will all be worth it.”
Cronulla, who sit on top of the NRL table, will also see captain Paul Gallen, prop Andrew Fifita and five-eighth James Maloney retain their places in the NSW side alongside Bird.
Frizell has been in and around NSW selection for a couple of seasons and was originally unlucky to miss out on replacing the injured Boyd Cordner.
But when Cronulla forward Wade Graham was rubbed out through suspension, the 24-year-old finally received his well-deserved call up.
A win for Queensland tonight would give them their 10th series victory from the last 11.
