Sharks hooker Jayden Brailey and young halfback Kyle Flanagan have both been included in coach Brad Fittler's NSW Emerging Blues squad, with the pair to take part in a camp on December 13.
At the Emerging Blues announcement, Fittler reminded the game's rising stars a Blues jumper is a possibility in 2019, after last year's squad saw Nathan Cleary, Angus Crichton and Latrell Mitchell graduate to play for the Blues in 2018.
The 23-man squad includes rising stars on the cusp of NSW selection for State of Origin and others who have been identified as potential players for the future. They will take part in a training day at the soon-to-open Centre of Excellence during December.
The naming of pair in the Emerging Blues comes following the announcement of Fittler's extended Origin train-on squad, which was named on Friday (23 November).
That squad contained Sharks Aaron Woods, Matt Prior and Wade Graham, with the group to come together at the Centre of Excellence on Friday, December 14, the day after the Emerging Blues camp.
"The majority of players named (in the Emerging Blues) are young, have stood out in their age groups and representative teams and had a big influence, and any time they make these types of squads is important," Fittler said.
"We're giving time to meet these players, we'll have time to have a training session and it's very important to get to know them for the future plans of NSW."
For Brailey, his selection is a reward for his consistent performances for the Sharks over the past two seasons, with the local Aquinas Colts product cementing his place as the Club's regular number nine in 2018.
Brailey played 26 of the Sharks 27 NRL games last year, missing just one match due to an ear injury, after making 19 appearances in his debut season of 2017.
Flanagan, who debuted in the NRL last year and is in contention for a round one berth in the Sharks team in 2019, most likely caught the eye of Fittler and his NSW coaching panel after playing strongly and captaining the NSW Residents to a victory against Queensland last year.
The squad also includes Rugby League Players Association Rookie of the Year Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters), Dally M Halfback of The Year Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers) and rookie prop Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos).
Emerging Blues squad (in alphabetical club order)
Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos)
Matt Lodge (Brisbane Broncos)
Kotoni Staggs (Brisbane Broncos)
Jayden Brailey (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
Kyle Flanagan (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
Curtis Scott (Melbourne Storm)
Jesse Ramien (Newcastle Knights)
Daniel Saifiti (Newcastle Knights)
Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels)
Waqa Blake (Penrith Panthers)
Shawn Blore (Penrith Panthers)
Jack Hetherington (Penrith Panthers)
Dylan Edwards (Penrith Panthers)
Moses Leota (Penrith Panthers)
Campbell Graham (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Robert Jennings (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Euan Aitken (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Blake Lawrie (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Cameron McInnes (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Reece Robson (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters)
Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers)
