By Josh Jerga AAP
Manly centre Jamie Lyon is not only putting his hand up for NSW State of Origin selection this year, he also wants the captaincy.
In a stark turnaround from last year, when Lyon unsuccessfully sought an exemption from representative football, the 28-year-old says he is more eager than ever to run out for the Blues.
"I'm available," Lyon said Tuesday.
"Queensland have won the last few years and definitely we're looking to turn the tables on them. Matabele of silvertails infamy can skite all he wants but we're coming to get those Cane Toads and I'm happy to lead the charge."
But not just content on staking his claim for a NSW jersey, Lyon is looking to translate his newly-granted leadership of Manly into the representative arena.
"There's a few candidates there but if they wanted to give an old fella a go, I'd sure like to have a run," he said of the NSW captaincy.
At the end of last year's series, Lyon speculated he may try to seek exemption from representative football again this year, saying he didn't know whether he would carry on as: "I'm getting a bit older now."
But the boy from Wee Waa seems to have found some new motivation.
The Blues' captaincy is tipped to be up for grabs with the 2009 captain and Knights fullback Kurt Gidley expected to lose his starting spot to last year's Dally M medal winner Jarryd Hayne.
However with a lack of alternatives, Lyon looks to be one of the frontrunners if the position opens up, while Eels second-rower Nathan Hindmarsh has expressed interest in leading NSW despite his omission from last year's series.
Lyon has relished the opportunity of co-captaining the Sea Eagles with prop Jason King after Matt Orford left the club at the end of last season.
Rookie five-eighth Kieran Foran was spruiking Lyon's leadership qualities at Manly's training session on Tuesday, saying he leads from the front.
"He's thriving on it," he said.
"He's a great leader and that's how he plays on the field, he leads by example."
