MITCHELL PEARCE is still a teenager, and last night, after being named as City halfback for Friday night's Origin game against Country in Wollongong, he displayed all his boyish charm by declaring he was "over the moon" and that he couldn't wait to "mix with all of these great players and find out what the go is in camp".

Pearce, from the Sydney Roosters, won a hotly contested battle for the jumper, beating Brisbane's Peter Wallace and Manly's Matt Orford. Wallace was included in the 17-man squad, on the bench, but Orford missed out. Pearce will now go head-to-head with Country halfback Brett Finch as the battle for the NSW No.7 jumper for the State of Origin series gathers momentum.

He has played just 23 first-grade games and turned 19 on April 7, so it was no surprise that Pearce, despite having been constantly mentioned as a big chance in the lead-up to the team being selected, was shocked by his inclusion.

"I really didn't know what to expect," he said. "I was trying not to think too much about what might happen. It is a shock to get picked, but I've got to admit I'd been watching Peter Wallace playing for the Broncos. I hadn't seen much of Matt Orford, but that was just because we were playing at the same time as Manly a lot.

"I'm a bit nervous about going into camp but I'm really looking forward to it. I'm sure it's going to be really good for me that Braith [Anasta] is there too. I'm really proud to be playing alongside him in the halves and I think it will help me settle down."

Roosters star Anasta was chosen alongside Pearce at five-eighth. Pearce said he was going to try to avoid thinking about possible inclusion in the NSW side for Origin I against Queensland at ANZ Stadium on May 21.

"There are still plenty of guys in the running," he said. "Guys like Kurt Gidley and 'Finchy'. They're all playing well. I'm not going to put too much pressure on myself. I just want to play well on Friday night."

The nature of the City-Country selections were a clear indication the NSW halfback battle is still a long way from over. Canberra halfback Todd Carney was chosen at five-eighth for Country and then there is Wallace's inclusion on the City bench. Orford's omission will be regarded by many as a shock.

Finch said he was going to try to approach the match in a relaxed manner.

"I've been around long enough to know there's no point in worrying about whether you might make the rep teams," he said. "I'm a step closer to the NSW team, but there's plenty of football to be played yet before they pick the team."

Newcastle utility Gidley was not considered for Country because he was named on the Australian bench for Friday week's Test against New Zealand but he remains a NSW halfback contender as well.

The biggest shock as far as the City and Country teams go was the non-inclusion by the City selectors of Wests Tigers centre Chris Lawrence.

City: Brett Hodgson, Jarryd Hayne, Ben Pomeroy, Brett Delaney, Luke Rooney, Braith Anasta, Mitchell Pearce, Jason King, Corey Hughes, Mark O'Meley, Luke Lewis, Mark Minichiello, John Sutton.

Interchange: Bryce Gibbs, Ray Cashmere, Feleti Mateo, Peter Wallace.

Country: Brett Stewart, Joel Monaghan, Jamie Lyon, Matt Cooper, Anthony Quinn, Todd Carney, Brett Finch, Brett White, Danny Buderus (capt), Anthony Laffranchi, Nathan Hindmarsh, Andrew Ryan, Craig Fitzgibbon.

Interchange: Ben Cross, Chris Heighington, Brett Kearney, Glenn Stewart.