Blues hero Trent Hodkinson says Nathan Cleary is a lock for the NSW No.7 jersey for the State of Origin series opener, but he’s not entirely sold on the idea of partnering him with another genuine halfback like Mitchell Moses.
The Blues will pick their team in two weeks for the first game on May 27, with Cleary the obvious option to steer the team around the park even if he has had his struggles in the Origin arena in the past.
But the man who led NSW to a famous series win in 2014 to end Queensland’s streak isn’t convinced that Eels star Moses is the best option to partner him in the halves, even though he’s been outstanding for the Blues.
Moses hasn’t dominated for Parramatta this year but he’s had excuses, with the blue and golds dealing with a horror injury crisis.
He’s only played one Origin game with Cleary – game one last year when he was five-eighth – with injuries preventing the pair from combining more often.
Jarome Luai and Ethan Strange are the other logical options, with Cleary boasting a terrific combination with Luai during their time together at Penrith.
“I think it’s clear to say Nathan will be locked in at that seven,” Hodkinson said.
“There are a lot of good halves also playing that put their hands up for sure. Moses has been playing solid footy, there’s Luai who’s just come back into the frame after being injured.
“Ethan Strange as well is really doing good things in a Canberra side who’s sort of underperforming at the moment, but he’s standing out which is good.
“So I think there are multiple options at that six. Cleary will be locked in at seven, but we’ll have to see how Loz (NSW coach Laurie Daley) goes.”
One of the reasons Hodkinson was able to end the streak was because he was the chief playmaker and had Josh Reynolds with him in the halves who was a more instinctive player.
It’s why he’s hesitant to pick two genuine halfbacks, although it could work if one of them played more as a running half and let the other take control
“I can see it working and it has worked in the past,” he said.
“I think game one last year they won that game, but I think they’ve just got to come up with a plan. Nathan can control it, Mitch can play off the cuff. He’s got the long kicking game which is super important in Origin as well.
“But I think two dominant halves, that’s where you’ll see sides struggle. Especially at Origin level where it’s hard to hear, you’ve got the crowd, away games and things like that.
“If Nathan can direct the play around and Mitch can play off the back of it – which they’ve done before – (then it can work) but Luai has got that combination with him.
“And Ethan Strange, he can take a backward step down there at Canberra and then just explodes when he needs to.
“As Loz said, they’re going to pick on form, he’s made it quite clear, so certainly they’ll (need to) play their way into a jersey.”
Originally published as ‘That’s where you’ll see sides struggle’: Blues legend reveals doubts over Nathan Cleary and Mitch Moses as halves for Origin