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\u2019s not entirely sold on the idea of partnering him with another genuine halfback like Mitchell Moses.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
But the man who led NSW to a famous series win in 2014 to end Queensland\u2019s streak isn\u2019t convinced that Eels star Moses is the best option to partner him in the halves, even though he\u2019s been outstanding for the Blues.<\/p>\n
Moses hasn\u2019t dominated for Parramatta this year but he\u2019s had excuses, with the blue and golds dealing with a horror injury crisis. <\/p>\n
He\u2019s only played one Origin game with Cleary \u2013 game one last year when he was five-eighth \u2013 with injuries preventing the pair from combining more often. <\/p>\n
Jarome Luai and Ethan Strange are the other logical options, with Cleary boasting a terrific combination with Luai during their time together at Penrith. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s clear to say Nathan will be locked in at that seven,\u201d Hodkinson said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a lot of good halves also playing that put their hands up for sure. Moses has been playing solid footy, there\u2019s Luai who\u2019s just come back into the frame after being injured. <\/p>\n
\u201cEthan Strange as well is really doing good things in a Canberra side who\u2019s sort of underperforming at the moment, but he\u2019s standing out which is good.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I think there are multiple options at that six. Cleary will be locked in at seven, but we\u2019ll have to see how Loz (NSW coach Laurie Daley) goes.\u201d<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s why he\u2019s 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 <\/p>\n
\u201cI can see it working and it has worked in the past,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think game one last year they won that game, but I think they\u2019ve just got to come up with a plan. Nathan can control it, Mitch can play off the cuff. He\u2019s got the long kicking game which is super important in Origin as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think two dominant halves, that\u2019s where you\u2019ll see sides struggle. Especially at Origin level where it\u2019s hard to hear, you\u2019ve got the crowd, away games and things like that. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf Nathan can direct the play around and Mitch can play off the back of it \u2013 which they\u2019ve done before \u2013 (then it can work) but Luai has got that combination with him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Ethan Strange, he can take a backward step down there at Canberra and then just explodes when he needs to. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs Loz said, they\u2019re going to pick on form, he\u2019s made it quite clear, so certainly they\u2019ll (need to) play their way into a jersey.\u201d<\/p>\n