Canberra Raiders prop Corey Horsburgh takes step towards State of Origin debut

It was Queensland coach Kevin Walters ringing to tell the Canberra Raiders prop he'd been picked in a 33-man squad for a Queensland pre-season camp.

Raiders teammate Josh Papalii, who was one of the Maroons best in this year's State of Origin series, was also in the squad announced on Friday.

They'll take part in the two-day camp in Brisbane on February 1-2.

The announcement comes after Jack Wighton and Nick Cotric went to the NSW Blues camp last week, with Emre Guler and Curtis Scott part of the Emerging Blues camp.

Horsburgh said it was special to have taken a step towards to achieving one of the goals he's set himself - to play State of Origin for Queensland.

He's represented his state at under-20s level, but his debut NRL season has thrown him into the mix for next year's Origin series.

The 21-year-old shone last pre-season and made his NRL debut against the Gold Coast Titans in round one - finishing the campaign with 22 games, including the grand final.

"Yeah crazy. Kevvie gave me a ring [Thursday] to let me know, so that was a pretty cool phone call," Horsburgh said.

"I didn't actually answer the first one because I didn't have the number [in my phone] then I rang him back because he left a voice message.

"It was a good one. Lucky I listened to the voice message.

"It was one of my goals this year. To tick that off is something special.

"I just want to have a big year and hopefully make the actual team one time."

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It means his father Rick will have to buy himself a Maroons Hawaiian shirt.

He called his dad straight away after getting off the phone with Walters.

Horsburgh finished training on Friday and flew back to Queensland for the Christmas period.

"I rang Dad straight after. He was so excited. He loves footy," he said.

"I think he would've been more excited than me. He loves footy and he's always the first person I tell anything."

Horsburgh's set himself the goal of forcing his way into the starting 13 next season.

He made 20 of his appearances off the bench this year, but will be pushing for either one of the starting prop positions or the No.13 jersey.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart had settled on Papalii and Sia Soliola in the front row and Joe Tapine at lock for their finals campaign.

"I just want to be in the team every week, and then to start [are my goals]," Horsburgh said.

"I want to make the finals and hopefully do one better than last year.

"I think that's everyone's goal this year - make the finals again.

"I'll be pushing [to start] so hopefully if I keep working hard I'll get it.

"But I don't mind coming off the bench or starting, it's all the same."

It's a fairly settled Raiders forward pack, with Horsburgh part of a group of young, emerging players looking to establish themselves as part of the Green Machine.

Emre Guler, Ryan Sutton and Hudson Young will all be staking their claims, while Luke Bateman wants to put an injury-interrupted 2019 behind him.

It means they'll be pushing each other throughout the pre-season. He said the first half of it had been "really, really hard".

"There's a few good young fellas, but the pack's pretty similar. I think the team's pretty similar - except [recruit Curtis Scott]," Horsburgh said.

"I guess we'll see throughout the year who really stands up, but it's looking similar to last year.

"Plenty of healthy comp. Every club needs that so it's really good to have here.

"The boys know we're all fighting for spots so it's a real positive thing."