The Cloncurry captain was the only member of the Mount Isa District Ta Ta’s team to be picked after the three-day tournament at Airlie Beach.

The 29-year-old was quite astonished when he heard of his selection but received a few hints throughout the weekend.

“It’s a nice surprise,” Chrisp said. “The boys [Ta Ta’s] were saying I was playing pretty well so to get selected and get that final nod was pretty awesome.”

The Cloncurry flanker also attributed his noticeable performances to the fact that he was allowed to play with a bit more freedom.

“Going from captaining the Cloncurry side last season, you’re playing with a different group of guys. 

‘‘Everyone here knew what they were doing so you could play your own game. You knew the other guys were there to back you up.”

Chrisp added that the smaller dimensions of the playing fields at Airlie Beach in comparison to Rugby Park in Mount Isa as well as experience also played a part.

“I was a bit older than a lot of the other players and felt I had a lot more knowledge. We also played on a narrow field at Airlie so you didn’t have to run as far. We could catch guys much easier.”

The mines surveyor made the move to Mount Isa from New Zealand less than five years ago after having a year in Perth.

Born in Gisborne on the North Island, Chrisp started playing rugby as a youngster when he was five years old, with the help of his encouraging father Douglas.

“It’s a family thing [rugby]. Dad used to play provincial representative rugby in New Zealand. He took over junior rugby when myself and my three brothers came along. We were first to turn up at the ground to put the flags and posts up, and last to leave.”

Chrisp will fly to Townsville on June 5 to gather with the rest of the North Queensland team, then head north to Port Douglas for the Graincorp Queensland Country Championships on June 6-8.

The former Auckland development squad member will face two teams from Central and South Queensland.