BLUES coach Laurie Daley has told South Sydney flyer Alex Johnston he won’t play Origin football until he “toughens up”.

NSW’s wingers were far from convincing in last week’s Game One loss, but Johnston’s chances of playing for the Blues this series still appear slim to none.

Laurie Daley delivered the 20-year-old a blunt message that he must build size and mongrel before he is considered for a State debut, after leaving him out of the opener.

And the Blues coach is unlikely to budge.

media_camera Greg Inglis, Alex Johnston, Will Chambers, Sam Thaiday, Greg Bird and Johnathan Thurston during Kangaroos camp.

For a blossoming talent who was deemed good enough to represent Australia just last month, Johnston could understandably be kicking stones at his snubbing and the implication that he’s not only too small but too meek for the Origin arena.

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But instead, the try-scoring freak has used the tough love as motivation, not even waiting until the off-season to start working double time in the gym, as he strives to build an irresistible case for an Origin call-up next year.

“I think the general idea was I’ve got to be a bit tougher and put a bit of size on,” Johnston told The Daily Telegraph.

“They’ve started me in the gym already and I’m trying to lift as heavy as I can and just trying to put on a bit of extra size.

“It doesn’t really hurt, so I’m trying to get started before the pre-season and see some results in getting a bit stronger and a bit bigger.

“The toughness is just a mental thing.

“Whenever I do get the call-up, I’ll do my best to be ready and take my opportunity.”

At 185cm and 89kg, Johnston is certainly no heavyweight.

But it’s his sleek build that has made him one of the most elusive players in the game and has delivered the Bunnies 29 tries from just 31 NRL appearances — an astonishing strike-rate in anyone’s language.

Johnston, though, has a mentor that is proof that size and speed can mix.

Pointing to giant club teammate and future Origin enemy Greg Inglis (195cm and 106kg) as inspiration, Johnston believes he can emerge from his body transformation even faster.

“Definitely. I want to stay as fast or even try and get faster,” he said.

“And I think a lot of my work in the gym will go around that as well. I’m doing a lot of power stuff to try and keep my speed.

“GI is the biggest human going around and he’s one of the fastest in the NRL as well.

“He can help me as he always does.”

media_camera Alex Johnston during South Sydney rugby league training at Redfern Oval, Sydney. Pic Brett Costello

The fact that Will Hopoate openly admitted he expected Johnston to get the nod ahead of him for Origin one, says it all about the Rabbitoh’s hard luck story this series.

But the way Johnston has reacted to the disappointment speaks volumes about his Origin pedigree.

The silver lining of missing out is he gets to take on the No. 1 jersey in Inglis’ absence, and Johnston is focusing on seizing that opportunity.

“You can feel that disappointment and such, but I pretty much thought of each way as a positive,” he said.

“If I got picked it would be great for me — something I’ve always wanted to do and I’d be proud of it.

“But if not I have the opportunity to play fullback for Souths which I also love doing.

“I didn’t get down on myself at all.

“I stayed positive and took the opportunity that was handed to me.”