First-time Blue Nick Cotric has revealed how he learnt of his maiden call-up for the Origin opener.
The 20-year old recalls being in Sydney with friends and seeing his phone going off.
โI was in Sydney with a few mates,โ Cotric tells foxsports.com.au.
โAnd I had this text from a limo driver saying: โHey, meet me up in Coogeeโ. I didnโt know who it was Iโm there thinking: โWhat do you mean Coogee?โ I wasnโt sure what was happening. I thought it was a prank call so I tried to block the number.โ
Texts and calls continued coming in for Cotric, which is when his Origin dream started becoming a reality.
โThen my Raiders manager phones me up,โ Cotric said.
โHe was telling me Iโd been selected in the squad for Origin. So I drove back to Canberra that day, got my stuff and came back to Sydney next day again.โ
Cotric was 18th-man for the Blues in their series win last year, and the youngster feels better prepared for this campaign having been through that experience.
โI was in Canberra relaxing after our game,โ he said. โAnd Freddy gave me the call.
โThankfully this year I had his number saved and picked up. I was overwhelmed. I was so happy.โ
