How actor Ben Lawson snuck a Queensland Origin jersey into Netflix drama series Firefly Lane

Eagle-eyed viewers will notice a vintage Maroons jersey pop up in Netflix’s hit new drama series Firefly Lane – and Queenslanders have homegrown actor Ben Lawson to thank

Homegrown actor Ben Lawson has left a Queensland calling card in Netflix’s hit new drama series, Firefly Lane.

Local viewers who watch the new US series, which Lawson stars in alongside Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke, will notice a scene in which Lawson’s character Ryan is wearing a vintage 1991 Queensland State of Origin jersey.

The subtle nod to his home state was no coincidence, with the Brisbane expat coming up with the idea after reading in the script that his character was lying around in “sweats”.

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Ben Lawson wears a vintage Queensland Origin jersey in a scene on Netflix series Firefly Lane. Picture: Supplied

“I thought maybe I could make it a footy jersey ... and I always thought he would be from Sydney,” Lawson, 40, told The Courier-Mail.

“Then I thought, “What am I thinking, I can’t put on a Blues jersey and put it on TV.”

With the drama series, which dropped on Netflix on Wednesday, set in 2003, Lawson scoured eBay for a Queensland jersey that fit the era.

Lawson convinced the wardrobe department on the American production to express post the vintage 1991 jersey to the Vancouver set in time to shoot the scene the following week.

“I took it to wardrobe and said … ‘I know you don’t know what it is, but it’s very Australian and era appropriate. Can you get it here on time?’” Lawson said.

Ben Lawson wears a vintage Queensland Origin jersey in a scene on Netflix series Firefly Lane. Picture: Supplied

“They got it approved from the network. They had no idea what it means.”

“I thought, ‘this is going to pay off at some point’.

“It’s special to me that it’s in there.”

Lawson, who also recently starred in Bombshell and 13 Reasons Why, said he remembered watching the iconic 1991 Origin series as an 11-year-old and becoming aware for the first time how much the series meant.

“It (the jersey) is still sitting there in wardrobe stock waiting to be used again in season two,” Lawson said.

“On the day the show is cancelled I will be walking away with that.”

Firefly Lane is currently trending as one of Australia’s top 10 shows on Netflix.