Josh Reynolds is still to make his State of Origin debut – but he doesn’t care.

Unlucky NSW interchange utility Reynolds wasn’t called upon by coach Laurie Daley in the Blues’ 14-6 win over Queensland in the Origin opener on Wednesday.

It was a scene that on the surface was similar to former Parramatta hooker Aaron Raper who sat forlornly on the NSW bench in game two of the 1997 series as fulltime sounded.

Raper was never chosen to play Origin again.

But Daley assured Canterbury’s Reynolds in the moments after the Blues’ gutsy game one win that he will be a part of the NSW side for game two.

“Laurie came up to me and said I will be part of the next game and that is fine with me,” Reynolds said.

“That’s footy and I will take that on the chin. I’m not a greedy guy.

“I know what people are going to say but that doesn’t worry me as long as the Blues won I have played my part from the bench.”

As the minutes ticked by Reynolds said he tried to remain composed.

“I was just trying to keep my thoughts together,” he said.

“I obviously haven’t played before and I was trying to stay calm and make sure I was ready when the time came. The game was always in the balance and when the 10th (interchange) card went out I knew it wasn’t going to happen. But that was something Laurie had mentioned might be the case.

“It’s reassuring to know I will be there for game two.”

Daley said he couldn’t find a time to inject Reynolds into the contest.

“I feel sorry for Josh but as long as he is fit he will be there for game two.

“It’s always a difficult situation when you have someone you don’t use.

“But I just couldn’t get him into the game.”

Maroons utility Kevin Walters was another who sat on the bench for a whole Origin game in game three of the 1991 series under coach Wayne Bennett.

Manly playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans wasn’t used by Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens in the Anzac Test against New Zealand in 2012.

A