Brisbane halfback Peter Wallace was gutted last year when told by NSW coach Craig Bellamy a testicle injury made it too risky to pick him for the State of Origin series decider.

Wallace, plucked from "out of the blue" for the first game of the 2008 series which NSW won 18-10, ruptured his testicle in the second Origin game.

While he received a medical clearance for the series decider, the nature of his injury was considered too sensitive to risk him getting a knock in contact drills leading up to the game.

"I was shattered to miss out on the third game last year," an elated Wallace told AAP after learning of his Origin recall.

"I spoke to Craig who said if I re-injured myself in contact work before the game it wouldn't leave much time to bring in a new halfback.

"I was disappointed but you have to put the team first.

"It was probably the right thing to do."

The Melbourne-born 23 year-old redhead from Sydney's Blue Mountains has lived with the disappointment of missing the biggest game of his life for the past 10 months hoping for another crack at Origin.

He'd managed to keep Origin in the back of his mind until this weekend when the nerves started to kick in before NSW selectors released the tension on Monday, notifying him he was wanted for the series opener against Queensland in Melbourne on June 3.

Wallace is more nervous the second time around.

Last year he wasn't really in the picture before the first game.

But as it turned out, he was rushed into the NSW camp the day after the team was named to replace first choice No.7 Kurt Gidley who suffered a cracked cheekbone playing against Melbourne.

"I just got chucked in and thought I did a pretty good job," said Wallace whose kicking game after a crash course from former Blues great Andrew Johns was a big factor in the Blues win.

Wallace would be happy to step up as a goalkicker for the Blues if Bellamy wanted.

Gidley is the likely goal kicker but Wallace has shown impressive form with the boot.

"I'd have no problem doing the kicking," said Wallace who slotted six from seven for City Origin against Country Origin in Orange earlier this month.

"They were all pretty easy and the one out wide I sprayed but if they want, I'd be more than happy to do it."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP