Hard man Cam ready to do the tough stuff for Origin hopefuls

He's always wanted ‘nothing more’ than to represent his state but Cameron McInnes remains focused on giving his Cronulla teammates the best opportunity to earn a start in the Origin arena.

On the back of three-straight wins for the ladder-leading Sharks, the veteran forward again finds himself in the discussion for potential Origin selection, having been invited to attend a pre-season camp for Blues hopefuls earlier in the year.

McInnes, who debuted under now Blues coach Michael Maguire at the Rabbitohs in 2014, didn't shy away from his Origin ambitions but shifted the focus from his potential selection to that of his Cronulla teammates – even if that meant his own representative goals took a backseat.

“I just really want this club to be doing well now and I want my brothers in this team to get those accolades,” McInnes told pan66.com.

“I would be lying if I said I didn't want to be a part of it but I've probably matured a lot now. I'm a bit older now and I realise that all you can do is your job for your team.

“I want Nicho to be there, I’d love to see him get a run and I even think so many of the other guys in the team could be playing Origin and I want them to be there.

“Blayke Brailey was a part of the extended squad last year and I just want to help them get there and see them achieve their goals.

So if that means me on the outside, just knuckling down and giving my all for the club, then that’s what I’ll do.

Cronulla forward Cameron McInnes

Following the departures of experienced leaders Wade Graham and Dale Finucane over the past six months, the now Cronulla captain has remained in selection conversations despite being at the latter end of his career.

In years prior, the versatile forward has been part of extended squads for New South Wales and said his experience as part of the Blues pre-season camp in February motivated him to keep his Origin dream alive.

“I was lucky enough to be in camp, it was a really cool experience and Madge is setting something up special there," McInnes said.

"It feels like a new era for New South Wales.

“If Madge or the other coaches think I'm the best guy to run out there and do my job then I'd love to do that, but I need to be playing well here and making sure that New South Wales players are playing good, hard footy.

“I'm just grateful that I got that opportunity to be at that camp and I know now that no matter what happens with the team being picked, I know that I have a role there/

"So whether I'm in the squad or not in the squad, I'll be cheering those boys on or whatever it takes.”

New South Wales will name their squad for the opening game of the 2023 Ampol State of Origin series at the conclusion of Round 12, with the series opener taking place at Suncorp Stadium on June 5.