'Wildcard' options emerge in race for Blues jumper

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06/05/2024 07:36

Michael Maguire is less than a month away from his first game in charge at State of Origin level - but there is still one major headache facing the NSW Blues coach.

While it's a certainty that Nathan Cleary will start the series at halfback for the side barring any more injury setbacks, the race to wear the No.6 jumper is still wide open.

Nicho Hynes has already had a brief taste of rep football before and is leading the Dally M Medal leaderboard after nine rounds, but there are still question marks over his ability to replicate his club form on the biggest stage in rugby league.

The injury to Mitchell Moses, which has seen the Eels playmaker sidelined for the past six weeks, has hindered his chances of earning a spot in the lineup, while the horror start to the season for South Sydney has seen Cody Walker fall down the pecking order.

The other possible options include Cleary's club teammate Jarome Luai, who has had a mixed run in the NSW side, as well as in-form Canterbury five-eighth Matt Burton.

During a recent edition of Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behaviour, one of the state's greatest players in Andrew Johns weighed in on the hopes of multiple Origin contenders and believes there is one 'wildcard' who could pass Hynes at the finish line.

Let's take a look through the leading chances to play five-eighth for NSW:

Nicho Hynes

After a disappointing first outing in the Origin arena which saw him dumped after just one game - an eight minute cameo off the bench - Hynes failed to recover in the second half of the 2023 season for the Sharks.

However, this year has seen the 27-year-old turn over a new leaf and regain his confidence, leading the Shire-based outfit to the top of the NRL ladder.

Hynes has registered nine try assists in eight games this year, while his running game has been on song for Cronulla, averaging over 120 metres per game.

Johns was quizzed on the potential of Hynes donning the Blues jumper next month and believes he is the front-runner to fill the void as it stands.

"I think so, for sure - they would play well together, he would easily go to five-eighth and just play off Nathan," Johns said.

"The next four weeks - they go Dragons and then they play Roosters, Brisbane and Penrith. That three-week block, if Nicho shoots the lights out, for sure.

"That's the big test, not only for Nicho but for Cronulla."

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Cody Walker

In the final game of last year's series, NSW brought in some fresh blood after dropping the first two matches and one of the men to star was the Rabbitohs five-eighth.

Walker unlocked the side's attack on the left-hand side of the field and combined nicely with a number of the outside backs including Bradman Best and Josh Addo-Carr.

And while his form has dipped significantly at club level this year, Johns believes there's still a chance Walker can hold onto his spot in the Blues side for the June 5 opener.

"I like Cody and I have been quite vocal about it," he said.

"He came in last year and if you look at all the tries - it was all on Cody's side of the field.

"I know he's not going well, but he is playing in a team which is struggling and a team where the forward pack is [being dominated]. He is still having really good touches, but between now and Origin, he needs to show Madge more grit, more of those effort areas.

"Cody is a big-match player and if you get him in there, he will lift … one thing we know about Cody is that he doesn't die wondering."

Walker has still maintained some of his attacking stats this year despite the Rabbitohs winning just one game, producing seven try assists in eight games - but it will be a huge call from Maguire to pick a key playmaker from a team sitting last on the NRL ladder.

Mitchell Moses

Picking a player coming straight off a lengthy injury absence could be a risk for Maguire - but the Origin arena has been full of them over the years.

Johns conceded the Parramatta star would have been the front-runner prior to suffering a broken foot, but believes the door is still open for him when he returns to the field.

"Moses is the wildcard," he said.

"If he comes back and has two games and plays well, I think they would go with him.

"He's played well at Origin level and I think it's at that time of his career where the game slows up, everything you have been working for, you take the blinkers off."

Before he was ruled out with injury, Moses was in good touch for the Eels, laying on three try assists in as many games and steering them to wins over Canterbury and Manly, as well as a gallant effort in a 26-18 defeat against Penrith.

Moses has been in the NSW side before but never received a consistent opportunity, despite being one of the league's best halfbacks for the past five years.

Matt Burton

If the aforementioned Moses is the wildcard in the race, Burton is the dark horse.

The 24-year-old has been in immense form for the Bulldogs over the past month, helping the side to a spot inside the NRL's top-eight, and his combination with some other NSW hopefuls in Stephen Crichton and Josh Addo-Carr has clicked into gear.

Burton possesses the size and running game to become a success at Origin level in the No.6 jumper, while his massive boot would take pressure off Cleary.

According to his coach Cameron Ciraldo, there is still plenty of room for improvement for Burton - but he should be on Maguire's radar at the selection table.

"Matt Burton at his best should be in those teams," he said after round nine.

"Everyone is searching for consistency and if Burto finds that consistency, does it for 80 minutes and does it for a few weeks in a row, we won't be talking about if he is in those teams - he will be in those teams.

"He still has a way to go. We are on the journey with him, he has improved a lot of things this year and I'm really excited to see him reach his potential.

"I know if he does that, we will be a better team for that."

Burton has crossed for four tries and set up another three this year for the Dogs, while his 93 run metres per game places him alongside some of the top halves in the NRL.

His prior experience for the Blues could also help mount a case, with Burton able to fill in at centre or as a bench utility if required.

Jarome Luai

The forgotten man in the equation is three-time premiership winner Luai, who has been part of the NSW side for a majority of the past five years.

The 27-year-old has won multiple series at five-eighth for the Blues and has a built-in combination with a number of players from the Panthers, including Cleary.

However, a disappointing performance in the first two games in 2023 has seemingly put a red line through Luai's name by many fans and experts.

Johns believes the Penrith attacking system, which has been dominant in the NRL, has failed to translate to rep football in recent years against Queensland.

"It depends how Madge wants to attack," he said.

"We've seen that Penrith style at club level doesn't dominate in Origin. It's all about kick reception footy, you don't get many penalties and it's very hard to get that structure on.

"I don't know how Madge is gonna play and the two positions up for grabs are five-eighth and dummy-half."

Luai has two try assists, 10 offloads, and three forced dropouts in eight appearances for the Panthers this season, while averaging 80 run metres per game.