Queensland great Sam Thaiday admits the debate around the NSW halves “makes no sense” as concerns remain over Mitchell Moses.
The five-eighth was ruled out of the series opener due to a hamstring injury and hasn’t played since, with Parramatta also ruling him out of Monday’s game.
However, it’s expected that Moses will be given every chance to prove his fitness, despite the performance of Ethan Strange on debut in game one.
Speaking on Nine’s Wide World Of Sports on Sunday, the former Maroons star questioned why the Blues would be looking to change a winning formula.
“I don’t know if it is a dilemma or not,” Thaiday said.
“I remember, back in my day, going into Origin camp we would see NSW change their halves combination for each game in the series.
“I thought Ethan Strange did a brilliant job in the first game. He complemented the way that Nathan Cleary played and Cleary did pull the strings, but I thought the guy who benefited the most off the back of that was Ethan Strange.
“They are talking about maybe benching him or putting him in the centres – I am just sitting back as a Queensland going ‘good on ya’ – mess with your spine again.
“It just makes no sense.”
Strange was originally selected on the six-man bench in Sydney prior to Moses going down during NSW camp.
Ethan Strange celebrates after his State of Origin debut. NRL Images