Forget club over country, Moses Mbye - the 21-year-old compared to superstar Johnathan Thurston - has pushed state over self.

The Bulldogs' Mbye, of Gambian descent through his father and raised on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, was asked during the build-up to Friday's clash with Wests Tigers whether he was looking forward to the possibility of even more chances to impress Canterbury coach Des Hasler should Josh Reynolds - who he has replaced in the side - and Trent Hodkinson again be picked to represent NSW in the State of Origin series.

"I hope they miss out," said Mbye, who represented Queensland's under-20s in 2012-13, of his teammates. "I'm a Queenslander and they're very good halves; they proved last year [that when they are] in the side NSW can win.

"For me, it's not the best thing."

While he replaced the injured Michael Ennis as hooker in last year's grand final loss to South Sydney, Mbye, 21, is already fully immersed in the Queensland system.

He described wearing the junior Maroons jersey as being almost as great a thrill as making his top grade debut and added he was proud that Maroons coach Mal Meninga included him in dinners with the state's NSW-based juniors where they're reminded of their roots and the possibility they could join Wally Lewis,Thurston, Billy Slater and Cameron Smith as Queensland heroes.

"He wants to keep us in the frame, we're in first grade and hoping to get the opportunity to get a crack at State of Origin one day," Mbye said.

That's not to say Mbye isn't determined to star at Canterbury. He described being called upon to play against the Wests Tigers as an opportunity to prove his long-term value for the club that staved off determined bids from Newcastle to recruit him.

"It's my childhood dream, to play first grade," he said. "I've managed to string a couple of games together and I think I have a couple more to go to show them my worth. It's a very exciting game against this week against the Tigers; massive pack, very strong. It'll be a good game.

"At the moment [I'm in] Josh's spot. He's proved himself there in the last few years, Origin and what not. It's his spot at the moment but I'm there to put some pressure on the boys and hopefully get a bench spot when he's back."

While he's off contract at the end of 2016, Mbye said he felt no need to talk to Canterbury about extending his deal, saying he was in the throes of his apprenticeship.

"The Dogs is a great opportunity," he said. "Two of the best halves in the game at the moment who are on fire; we have the best coach in the game who has brought massive names through . . .  Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans . . . look at their resumes, they have Test caps or Origin wins under their belts. You wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

"[In terms of opportunity to become a full-time first-grader] things change overnight, people get injured, people move on, there's family things and always spots that open up. Anything could happen.

"For instance, Trent is off contract at the end of the year and you never know, he could pack up and go, that's his decision. I know I'm on contract until the end of 2016, so I'm here until then."