Gold Coast back Jamal Idris hasn’t given up hope of representing NSW this year, claiming he’s in better form than when he made his sole State of Origin appearance in 2010.

Preparing for his 100th NRL start in the Titans’ clash with North Queensland on Sunday, the 22-year-old said he still hoped to feature in this year’s Origin series despite being overlooked by Blues selectors for Wednesday’s opener in Sydney.

“You always hope to get picked but if you don’t, life continues doesn’t it?” Idris said on Thursday.

“You’ve just got to keep working hard for your team.

“It’s (Origin) obviously a goal, but saying that it’s not ruling my world at the moment.”

Freed from the injury worries which marred his first campaign for the Titans in 2012, Idris firmly believes he’s in career-best form, exceeding the displays which propelled him into the NSW setup as a teenager three seasons ago.

The giant centre put on a man-of-the-match display against Parramatta in Mudgee last weekend, scoring two tries and setting up another in the 42-4 mauling.

It’s a long way from the schoolboy who got a call from nowhere in 2008 from then-club Canterbury to make his first grade debut.

“I remember getting the call on my way back from school and I had to hang up and ask mum (if I could play),” he said.

“She just giggled and said ‘yeah, that’s awesome’, so I rang them back and said ‘yeah, I’m good to play’.

“At that age I was just happy to be running out and playing NRL. Now I can be disappointed if I play a bad game or I can be happy if I play a good game.

“At the moment, I’m looking to play at my best in every game.”