BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 16: Tevita Pangai of the Broncos takes on the defence during the round 23 NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium on August 16, 2018 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler has added star Bronco Tevita Pangai Junior to the extended 32-man Origin squad that will attend a camp in Sydney next month.

The 22-year old must now make a call on on which team he will represent next year, the Blues or Tonga.

Fittler sent Pangai Junior the invite with the hope that he would pick NSW, but does not want to put pressure on the gun back-rower.

“For most of them it will be the first time we’ve seen them since after the series,” Fittler told Fox Sports.

“It puts a full stop on finalising the year and getting their feedback from this year’s series and also allows us an opportunity to look ahead for our defence of the shield in 2019.

“It’s always beneficial to get them to spend time together. We won’t be training but having them around each other will only further strengthen the bond they formed this year.”

Pangai Junior has previously said he wants to represent Tonga, but has also expressed a desire to play Origin.

Fittler's squad features 19 players from the 2018 series-winning side, while adding six new names to the mix.

Pangai Junior is one of six players who have not played Origin before, along with Nick Cotric, Dale Finucane, Cameron Murray, Ryan James, Luke Keary and Jordan McLean.

Extended Origin squad:

Jack Bird (Brisbane Broncos)

Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Penrith Panthers)

Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)

Josh Addo-Carr (Melbourne Storm)

Damien Cook (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Nick Cotric (Canberra Raiders)

Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters)

Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters)

Jack De Belin (St George Illawarra Dragons)

Dale Finucane (Melbourne Storm)

Blake Ferguson (Parramatta Eels)

Tyson Frizell (St George Illawarra Dragons)

Wade Graham (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

Ryan James (Gold Coast Titans)

Josh Jackson (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters)

David Klemmer (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

James Maloney (Penrith Panthers)

Jordan McLean (North Queensland Cowboys)

Latrell Mitchell (Sydney Roosters)

Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Tyrone Peachey (Gold Coast Titans)

Mitchell Pearce (Newcastle Knights)

Tevita Pangai Junior (Brisbane Broncos)

Matt Prior (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

James Roberts (Brisbane Broncos)

Tariq Sims (St George Illawarra Dragons)

James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)

Jake Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)

Tom Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)

Paul Vaughan (St George Illawarra Dragons)

Aaron Woods (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

 

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