Ray Stone’s talent has shone once again.
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The former Moss Vale Dragon has been selected for the Under 20s NSW State of Origin team.
The 19-year-old Parramatta lock will don the blue jersey in the junior curtain raiser to the main event at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, May 31.
Stone said it was a shock to be selected for the Blues.
“I was very honoured to be chosen,” he said.
“Being such a passionate Blues fan there’s nothing better than getting the chance to be a part of Origin and wear the Blues jersey.”
The Blues will be coached by legend Danny Buderus and will look to assert the dominance over the Queensland side, having won all five of the under 20s Origin campaigns to date.
Stone said he was looking forward to learning from a Blues veteran.
“I’ve met Bedsy before and he’s an awesome bloke with a lot of knowledge,” he said.
“It’ll be a great experience being coached by him.”
The young Blues will begin coaching camp on Friday and will head to Brisbane on Monday.
It’s been a big few months for Stone.
He recently played for the Junior Kangaroos against the Junior Kiwis at GIO Stadium and has played six games for the Eels so far, claiming four tries including a double against the Tigers in round seven.
He also averages 107 metres from 11 runs and 30 tackles per game.
After Origin, Stone said he wanted to continue to improve with the Eels.
“After Origin I’ll head back into training,” he said.
“[I’ll] keep trying to improve and keep ripping in.”
The Blues will kick its game off against Queensland at 5:15pm on May 31, with the match to be live streamed in full on NSWRL.com.au.
Full Blues team list: 1 Nick Meaney (Newcastle Knights), Isaac Lumelume (Cronulla Sharks), Jesse Ramien (Cronulla Sharks), Curtis Scott (Melbourne Storm), Reuben Garrick (St George Illawarra Dragons), Jai Field (St George Illawarra Dragons),Troy Dargan (Parramatta Eels), Emre Guler (Canberra Raiders), Reece Robson (St George Illawarra Dragons), Blake Lawrie (St George Illawarra Dragons), Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Jack Murchie (Canberra Raiders), Nat Butcher (Sydney Roosters), Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters), Ray Stone (Parramatta Eels), Stefano Hala (Penrith Panthers), Billy Magoulias (Cronulla Sharks), Jai Whitbread (Brisbane Broncos).