The Gulgong product has now scaled every rugby league representative mountain there is to climb after his name left the lips of NSW coach Laurie Daley as the starting lock for game one on May 27 at ANZ Stadium.

Jackson was humble to the end saying he did not expect to get the fateful phone call from Daley, but said he celebrated the latest good news in his glittering career with his partner Madison and his parents.

"I was just at home sitting on the lounge and Laurie called me and asked me if I wanted to play Origin," Jackson said. "I was pretty excited and very honoured and humbled to be given the responsibility of playing for the Blues.

"You dream of playing there since you were a kid. But it's pretty surreal really, I just can't wait to get out there and play."

Jackson said he would be wearing the Blue jersey for his parents and the region that supported him as he rose through the ranks as a talented junior to one of the best players in the NRL.

"They (parents) were pretty proud and they have made a lot of sacrifices along the way, so it is pretty special for them as well," he said.

"From the time I was a kid they were driving me around the countryside, giving up their weekends just for me to play footy."

Earlier this season Jackson said his form for Canterbury was patchy and that he wanted to lift his game, not just to help the Bulldogs.

He highlighted his selection for Country this year as a perfect chance to impress Daley, and the NSW leader was watching, very closely.

"We've lost a lot of experience in the back row with Gal (Paul Gallen) not quite right and Birdy (Greg Bird) suspended," Daley said.

"So we'll be going with Beau Scott and Ryan Hoffman as the second-rowers with Josh Jackson at lock.

"He plays on the edge for the Bulldogs but he played really well in the City-Country game as a tight forward.

"He's a good young prospect and he's somebody who's earned the right to be selected through sheer weight of performances, so I am really excited about what he brings to the table."

Despite his standout performance for Country, Jackson said he was only thinking about playing for the Dogs this weekend.

"I didn't have any expectations. I have said it all along that there are a lot of good back-rowers running around for NSW," he said.

"I went to training on Monday and expected to go to Canberra for Sunday, so it was a bit of a surprise.

"It is a little bit different to where I play with the Bulldogs, but most games I end up there in the middle for part of the game."

Jackson said he looked up to the likes of Andrew Ryan, Nathan Hindmarsh, Craig Fitzgibbon and was hoping to replicate their feats in the hallowed blue jersey of his state when he looked to help the side retain the State of Origin shield.