The pain of losing last season’s State of Origin series is hurting the NSW players.
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It’s a pain the Blues know all too well with Queensland having won all but one of the past 10 series.
Gulgong junior Josh Jackson was part of the Blues side which was defeated in two of the three games last season and his efforts in a losing side was recognised by teammates when awarding him the Brad Fittler Medal for NSW’s best player of the series.
He’s back again this year, having been named in Laurie Daley’s new-look squad on Monday night.
The likes of Jarryd Hayne and Brett Morris have been recalled while Nathan Peats and Jake Trbojevic are set to debut.
Jackson, when speaking to NRL.com last week, said motivation was not an issue for the squad this time around.
I know the boys in the squad are hungry to turn it around and I want to be a part of that.
- Josh Jackson
"After last year's result though I know the boys in the squad are hungry to turn it around and I want to be a part of that,” he said.
While the squad is a mix of new and old – Jackson joins the likes of Aaron Woods, Josh Dugan and new captain Boyd Cordner as regulars – Daley has admitted he won’t be afraid to make more changes.
"We've got plenty of depth, so the challenge for our players this year is not to feel comfortable because we have got players underneath that we haven't had that in the past," Daley said.
The change-up to the NSW squad meant axings for veterans Robbie Farah, James Tamou and Michael Jennings, as well as makeshift five-eighth Matt Moylan.
Injured winger Josh Mansour was unavailable, as was Origin retiree Paul Gallen.
Despite the changes, Daley couldn’t find room for the in-form Paul Vaughan, Dylan Walker and Trent Merrin.
"That's what excites me. We've got a good group of players to choose from, so the ball's in their court. They know now they have to perform," Daley said.
"If they don't, we've got other people ready to go. That's the pressure that we've been looking to build internally in our squad and I think we've done that."
Reluctant in the past to make wholesale changes mid-series, Daley suggested that could change this year.
"This year I think there's a number of guys that have been unlucky to miss selection.
“And that's what you want - you want them to be hungry as well and make sure that when their opportunity arises, they're ready to take it."