Casey McLean has been named in New South Wales' State of Origin squad for game one against Queensland next week, with the Kiwis and Penrith Panthers centre selected on the interchange in a 20-man side. The opener in Sydney will kick off at 10pm NZT on May 27.

McLean was picked on the same lines as other eligible players who grew up in New South Wales, after this year’s relaxed rules allowed players who have lived in New South Wales or Queensland to qualify even if they have chosen another country at test level. Addin Fonua-Blake and Victor Radley were also selected under those changes, while Jacob Saifiti has been called up for New South Wales for the first time since 2023.

The selection underlines how much the Origin eligibility landscape has shifted. This year’s rule change widened the player pool and gave selectors more room to bring in footballers with state ties who might previously have been ruled out because of their international allegiances. Radley, 30, had been playing for England since 2022 before being included, and the list also shows New South Wales is willing to lean on players with proven top-level experience rather than only those tied exclusively to Australia.

That same logic was evident in the squad balance. New South Wales named 20 players for game one of three, with McLean among the options on the bench rather than in the starting side. The call came as clubs and players around the league braced for the Origin period, with several Warriors players reportedly told to pack extra for a trip to Brisbane, although only Mitch Barnett was selected from the club.

For McLean, the selection is a reward for form and a reminder of how Origin now sits at the intersection of state identity and international representation. For New South Wales, it is a sign that the new rules are already changing who can be brought into camp when the series begins next week.