NSW coach Brad Fittler has backed in Nathan Cleary and James Maloney to start in the halves in the Origin opener despite their indifferent start to the season.
With just two wins from the first seven games amid the duo's struggles, Penrith have been one of the most disappointing teams this season.
However, Fittler has faith in the incumbent halves pairing and is confident that they can still play their role on the Origin stage.
“Most probably, yeah,” Fittler said on Channel Nine’s Sports Sunday.
“We’re still four weeks away and it would be nice if they were playing better, but blokes like Cody Walker and Luke Keary, they’re playing fantastic, and Adam Reynolds (as-well).
“So there are a few blokes that are pushing but they need to play better, without a doubt, (but) we have four weeks to go and they need to get better.”
Fittler believes they showed improvement in their narrow loss to South Sydney on Friday.
“(Their form is) actually the best it’s been I thought the other night out at Penrith," Fittler said.
“There were a few things that went wrong and I don’t think their attack was the thing that necessarily went wrong.
"Their discipline is still incredibly poor.”
Looks to me with all the Queensland NRL teams not performing NSW will win the series even if they played Hodgkinson and Reynolds in the halves.
Fittler and the NSW selectors should reward form players and stop playing the loyalty game like the trap Daley fell into. Rep sides are a all about rewarding the best players. This is not a 24 round competition that you can play loyalty for a few weeks even if the team loses.
The fans want to see the best play not a bunch of p[layers out of form from last season series win.💪🎱👍
Even if they played Pearce and keary.
Who are the two inform halves❓❔❓❔ I’d say Keary and Walker. Would it be a gamble to play Keary at halfback and Walker at 5/8. I believe that combination could produce plenty of spark.💪🎱👍
My oh my steggles chicken, for once you ain’t talking $hit and you’ve commented with some common sense 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. See what happens when you take your meds… guess there’s a first for everything.
Keary I agree with, but I’m not completely sold on Walker…If I was picking a side today, it would be a Keary and Cleary combo…but I still think Maloney has some time to hit some form. Just not next weekend, but after that should be fine.