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Canberra Raiders fullback Josh Dugan hopes his selection in the NRL All Stars team will lead to a call-up for NSW State of Origin team this year.
The All Stars take on the Indigenous All Stars at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast on February 12.
Dugan told reporters on Friday he wants to put his name in the frame early for selection in Ricky Stuart’s side.
“If I can make a name for myself in this game and have a good game then there’s no knowing what’s going to happen,” Dugan said.
“I played pretty well in the Country side last year and then got picked in the extended squad for New South Wales.
“This year I want to focus more on making my mark in getting into that squad rather than being in the extended squad.”
Dugan said it’s a big honour to be selected for the NRL All Stars.
“It’s not picked by players or anything like that or coaches. It’s picked by the fans,” said the 20-year-old.
“So to know that I’m one of the most voted players in the comp is pretty exciting.”
The fullback admitted it will be different playing alongside Benji Marshall, Cameron Smith and the man who was his idol as a youngster, Darren Lockyer.
“It was pretty surreal to even think about playing with them,” he said.
“But I guess when I get up there, if I’m not too starstruck I think, I’ll see how I go.
“They’re the sort of players you never want to play against because they can always do something special. So to have the sort of players like Benji and Lockyer in the same team alongside you it’s going to be good fun.”
The All Star team for the Indigenous All Star clash at Skilled Park on February 12.
Squad: Josh Dugan (Canberra), Akuila Uate (Newcastle), Michael Jennings (Penrith,) Jamie Lyon (Manly), Brett Morris (St George Illawarra), Darren Lockyer (Brisbane), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Ben Hannant (Brisbane), Cameron Smith (Melbourne), Matt Scott (Nth Qld), Nathan Hindmarsh (Parramatta), Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers) Paul Gallen (Cronulla). Bench: David Taylor (South Sydney), Ashley Harrison (Gold Coast), Feleti Mateo (Warriors), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Sydney Roosters), Michael Ennis (Canterbury). Coach’s pick: Petero Civoniceva (Penrith), Kurt Gidley (Newcastle).
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