League: Four new caps for Blues

No-one was more surprised than Michael Gordon when his name was read out by NSW chairman Colin Love at the Blues team announcement on Monday night.

The quietly-spoken Penrith winger, who has never played representative football at any level, admits apart from fellow Panthers Michael Jennings and Luke Lewis, he doesn't know any of his new teammates.

However, the 26-year-old goal-kicking sensation is determined to enjoy every moment of being a Blues player and vowed not to be overawed by the occasion or facing the finest ever State of Origin side.

"It is unreal, I have never seen so many cameras or had so many people wanting to talk to me," Gordon said.

"I had seen my name mentioned in the paper for a spot in the side, but until you know it is official you can't really get excited about it or let it affect you, but this is great and I cannot wait to get to camp and get to know all of the boys properly.

"I obviously know the players because I have played against them, but I've never really spoken to any of them and that is something I am looking forward to."

Gordon, who is the leading points scorer in the NRL with a goal-kicking success rate of more than 80 per cent, is one of four new faces in the Blues team, along with Parramatta prop Tim Mannah, Cronulla front-rower Kade Snowden and Manly bookend Jason King.

Mannah has enjoyed a meteoric rise in his first two years in first grade, reaching the grand final with Parramatta in his debut season and now being included in the NSW side in his second.

The 22-year-old thought he would never have a chance of making it into the Blues side while he was coming off the bench for Parramatta for most his career, until being reassured he was in the selectors' thoughts when playing for the City Origin side.

"I really enjoyed that experience and it was explained to me that not being a regular starter wouldn't go against me, and besides, I have become a bit of a bench specialist it seems," he said.

Mannah credited Eels stalwarts Nathan Hindmarsh and Nathan Cayless for helping him develop into one of the most exciting young forwards in the NRL and vowed he would not let the side down.

"I am lucky to have both of those guys around me at Parra and Cayless has been a real mentor to me as a prop and Hindy was my favourite Origin player growing up," Mannah said.

"He texted me last night after I got the call from the Parra team manager telling me I was in to congratulate me.

"But the only advice he has given me so far was to not get too fond of the buffet trolly!"

- AAP