SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES - MARCH 11: Nathan Cleary and James Maloney of the Panthers speak during the warm-up before the round one NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the Parramatta Eels at Panthers Stadium on March 11, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
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.”