Diggers pair earns Origin selection | Ipswich Rugby League | NRL Rugby in Ipswich

Rian Diffey is practising his on-field moves for his first curtain raiser game for the 2009 State of Origin season.

Claudia Baxter

ONLY twenty days remain.

Queensland and New South Wales fans are counting down the days until the first State of Origin match for the year.

For Ipswich Rugby League juniors Rian Diffey and Jordan Tighe, this year's countdown takes on a whole new dimension.

The two friends will live every rugby league player's dream on June 3, when they put on the maroon jerseys and play in the curtain raiser to game one.

After the duo played together for the Diggers in the inaugural under-16 Cyril Connell Cup, both were then named in the Queensland team, Tighe at fullback and Diffey on the wing.

The reward couldn't get much better, as the teenagers prepare to play in front of a sell-out MCG crowd.

“I always wanted to play for Queensland so it was a good opportunity for me to get in,” said Diffey, who is playing his first year of representative football.

“I'm looking forward to playing in front of a big crowd.”

Chosen for his speed and size, the St Edmund's College student gained invaluable experience from his time with the Diggers.

“It (The Cyril Connell Cup) was a good competition,” he said.

“A lot different to club, better defenders, better attackers.

“I think I've just gained confidence in everything.”

Having played full-back for much of the Cyril Connell Cup with Tighe at five-eighth, the two will play in different positions when they get to Sydney in two weeks.

“It'll be a little bit different but I'm just going to play like I play when I'm playing fullback,” Diffey said of his new position.

“I reckon we've got a good chance, I haven't seen any of the New South Wales side but we should go alright.”