Hay said it would be a great opportunity for his teammates again this year and pointed to Woden Valley second-rower Cleveland McGhie as someone who could go to the next level.

"I think it gives a lot of good exposure to boys who don't make an NRL squad straight out of under-20s," he said.

"I think Country Rugby League did a great job in reducing it to under-23s. It's obviously a great opportunity for a lot of boys.

"I think someone like Cleveland McGhie would walk straight into a NSW Cup or Queensland Cup side, or possibly an NRL side. It's obviously a great opportunity for guys like that."

From Gundagai, Hay played for the Raiders under-20s last year and has joined the Queanbeyan Kangaroos in the Canberra Raiders Cup this season.

While he wouldn't knock back the chance to play at a higher level, his focus was on helping Monaro knock off Northern Rivers.

A Country under-23 team will be picked from the best players in the tournament, with last year's team getting the chance to play Samoa and Scotland ahead of the World Cup.

"I think that's always in the back of your mind, but if it happens it happens, if it doesn't it doesn't," Hay said.

"It's just a part of footy. I'm just focused on this weekend and hopefully get the win with the boys and get as many boys in that country side as possible.

"At the moment I'm happy playing footy at Queanbeyan and I'm loving playing footy in this. I wish I could play this every weekend, but if it happens it happens, but I'm comfortable at the moment."

While Monaro cruised to their second consecutive final, Hay didn't think they were the favourites, pointing to Northern River's big win in their semi-final.

"Looking at that result on the weekend they're going to be a very strong team ... I don't think we see ourselves as the top side," he said.

"It's hard to compare ourselves with Northern Rivers at the moment as they are in the northern pool we haven't really seen a lot of them.

"They're going to be a strong side as you saw in the result on the weekend, any side that wins 64-12 ... they're going to be a good side. We'll put our best foot forward."

CRL MEN’S UNDER-23’s COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Saturday: Monaro Colts v Northern Rivers at Kirkham Park, Camden, 12.30pm.

Monaro team: 1. Ryan McQueen (c), 2. Kyle Shepperdson, 3. Tevita Aroha-Tuinauvai, 4. Ryley Thomas, 5. Chris Hart, 6. Nicolas Cornish, 7. Derek Hay, 8. Kye Madden,  9. Zac Patch, 10. Luke Skidmore, 11. Nukurua Ngere, 12. Cleve McGhie, 13. Tyson Greenwood. Interchange: 14. Daine Spencer, 15. Ron Leapai, 21. Luke Ingram, 22. Connor Brebner, 23. Noa Vanisi.