Shock City Origin selection Waqa Blake says he was as surprised as anyone when he got the call up for the representative match in Wagga Wagga.

But such is his talent, despite only playing a handful of NRL games, the Penrith Panthers have the big centre locked up until the end of 2017.

“I went home after the Sharks game, and then I started getting these text messages saying I’d made the City team,” Blake told The Daily Telegraph.

“I thought, ‘what, something isn’t right here’. So I had a look myself, and that’s when I found out.

“I couldn’t believe it.

“I was playing reserve grade [in April] and I didn’t even think about this [City]. “

I was only focusing on trying to get into first grade and better my game.’’