GULGONG junior Josh Jackson is a future star of the NRL. Some would say he is one already.
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After making his NRL debut in 2012 the 23-year-old has played in two grand finals, represented Country Origin twice, been a regular in Des Hasler's starting 13 for the Bulldogs and to top it off, he made his international debut for Australia in the Four Nations in November.
It is no surprise Jackson was included in Laurie Daley's emerging NSW Blues squad.
Jackson had been previously selected in the squad but his inclusion for next year's training camp has a lot more weight to it.
He is a Kangaroo representative and was the 18th man for the Blues in the opening State of Origin match in May.
It is only a matter of time before Jackson forces his way into the State of Origin match-day 17-man squad.
Daley's emerging Blues squad is an acknowledgement to certain players that they are in the Blues' coach's sights for future State of Origin games.
The squad will attend a training camp in January and there will be seven players who in the Kangaroos' Four Nations squad, including Jackson.
"It's great we've got seven players from that [Kangaroos] squad," Daley said.
"They've never played Origin before and it's a great step up for them to come into our camp to see what New South Wales is all about. Hopefully they'll take a lot out of it."
Orange junior Jack Wighton is also in the squad.
The squad is also littered with six players from South Sydney, a reward for their premiership win this year.
The list of six Rabbitohs is headed by halves combination Adam Reynolds and Luke Keary.
Despite being born in Queensland, Keary is a New South Welshman, according to Daley.
"Luke's a wonderful young player. The way the rules are if he's going to play Origin it's going to be with New South Wales," Daley said.
"We think he's got the potential to play for the Blues. I've spoken to Luke and he's excited to be a part of the camp."
NSW EMERGING BLUES SQUAD: Josh Jackson, David Klemmer (Bulldogs); Jack Wighton, Paul Vaughan (Canberra Raiders); Ryan James, Aidan Seizer (Gold Coast Titans); Dale Finucane (Melbourne Storm); Sione Mata'uita (Newcastle Knights); Nathan Peats, Tepai Moeroa (Parramatta Eels); Matt Moylan, Josh Mansour, Bryce Cartwright, Adam Docker (Penrith Panthers); Alex Johnston, Dylan Walker, Luke Keary, Adam Reynolds, Cameron McInnnes, Kyle Turner (South Sydney Rabbitohs); Luke Brooks, Curtis Sironen (Wests Tigers).