Can you tell which State of Origin star is pictured in a TV ad with two footy greats when he was just 10 years old?

An NRL star about to make his Origin debut for NSW on the hallowed turf of the MCG started dreaming big almost two decades ago after appearing in a TV commercial alongside two blues greats, Nathan Hindmarsh and Matt King.

In 2006, the in-form utility and his younger brother Fletcher were part of the NRL football card advertisement alongside the NSW duo plus Queensland pair Petero Civoniceva and Justin Hodges.

With long, blond hair, the star looked like he belonged in the surf rather than on a football field – and now, in a circular moment, the 28-year-old was reminded of King’s TV commercial, which is one of the assistant coaches to Michael Maguire in the Blues camp.

His name? Connor Watson.

“The Origin ad was epic, it was filmed in a parking lot of this huge industrial complex,” Watson told the paper Sydney Morning Herald.

“We had the Matt King footy card, and then ‘Kingy’ sprinted past. Those guys were legends. After that I loved Kingy and Hindy even more.’

Hindmarsh fondly recalled taking part in the commercial and recalled that Watson – who later was an extra on Home and Away – was a ‘very polite and talkative boy’.

The decorated backrower – who has represented NSW in 17 matches – also has no doubt Watson will command the Origin arena after finally beating the side this week.

Fast forward to 2024 and Connor Watson is set to make his Origin debut for NSW on the hallowed grounds of the MCG on June 26

The Roosters were in excellent form after missing all of last season with an injury that left him behind the eight ball as this year’s campaign got underway.

Watson is embracing the opportunity to represent his state – and considering he started the year in the reserve grade and missed the entire 2023 season due to a patella injury, his meteoric rise has been impressive.

‘I’ve always dreamed of playing [Origin]he said this week.

“It just shows you how quickly things move in football. And when you play well, you never know what can happen.”

Watson also believes his patience in returning from last year’s knee injury has been a factor when it comes to his form in 2024.

“It definitely helped put me in a better position,” he said.

‘The fact [recovery] being so slow meant that by the time I got back I was ready to go.”

Watson was one of several changes to the side that lost the first match, with another replacement in Mitchell Moses claiming Nicho Hynes was a ‘scapegoat’ for the defeat.

Game two takes place on June 26 in Melbourne, with the Blues needing a win to keep the Origin series alive.