Origin Watch: New South Wales – The halves

We're only moving into week two of the 2019 NRL season but Brad Fittler is already plotting the moves that he hopes will deliver the Blues a second straight Origin series win for the first time in a LOOOONG time.

For the first time in almost as long, the Blues won the battle in the halves across two games last season.

The names Thurston and Cronk have given New South Wales fans nightmares for a decade. Last year the Blues got one back as the Penrith partnership got the chocolates in both games one and two.

The obvious temptation is to stick with the winning halves combo. The last time the Blues won they won on the back of the Bulldogs halves, a combination that did not contest the series title defence that next year.

We take a look at the front runners for Origin jumpers come Game 1.

James Maloney

2018 Origin winner and two time Premiership winner James Maloney looks the obvious choice to again wear the six come Origin time. That said, he's another year older and his round one performance was Penalty Maloney rather than try assist Maloney. That's the ride you sign up for when you pick the Roosters and Sharks title winner. He'll set up plenty of chances but he's going to give away penalties and miss tackles. Last year it worked out. His pre-Origin form was Dally M medal winning. His form post-Origin was at times dire. It all depends on that for mine.

Nathan Cleary

The other incumbent half for the 2018 shield winning Blues is the second half of the Panthers combo. That combination will work in both players favour. Cleary didn't have a good round one but will play himself into Origin contention by rounds six or seven. He looked right at home at Origin level in 2018 and still has plenty of development to go. Playing under his father and with Maloney really lifts his Origin chances. As it stands he's the front runner to partner Maloney.

Adam Reynolds

The Bunnies' number seven was amazing in awful conditions in round one. He kicked the defending premiers into submission and saw his side home. Reynolds already has two Origin jumpers to his name and I'd be shocked if he doesn't add to those in the near future. At 28 he's in his prime and I'd look to the Rabbitohs' number seven to push Cleary all the way. This could be his season both for club and state.

Luke Keary

In my view, the 2018 Grand Final man of the match is the biggest threat to breaking up the Panthers' dominance of the Origin halves. He's played for the Kangaroos and looked right at home in his second appearance. Played a single hand almost in the final game of 2018 and deserves his man of the match medal. He has no weaknesses and a good run of form in the weeks leading up may see him pip either Maloney or Cleary.

Cody Walker

The man who really upset Luke Keary last Friday night was the Bunnies' number six, Cody Walker. I'd never seen any player upset the Kangaroos' half in such a manner. He's got Origin player written all over him. Tough, aggressive and super talented, anyone ruling Walker out is a lot braver than I am. He's one who may come into utility contention but if he's chosen I think it'll be at six. He'll need to be in red hot form but Walker is a gun and looks made for Origin.

Mitchell Pearce

You can't have an Origin discussion without the name Mitchell Pearce. I've been on record as saying Pearce is not an Origin player and I stand by those comments. He's had multiple chances and only really shone in one game a series. That's not good enough at this level. That said, he's arguably the best club number seven eligible for the Blues of the past few seasons. I can't bag the selectors for choosing him in the past but there's too much talent listed above for Pearce to be considered unless he's the form half of the comp.

Luke Brooks

The current Dally M halfback of the year doesn't seem to get a mention but he certainly should. For the record I have all of the above players in front of him right now but I don't think Brooks would let anybody down. He was the form half in 2018 but didn't play finals so couldn't show his talents against the best of the best. That counts against players. Brooks is probably two years off genuine Origin contention but I wouldn't be shocked if he's there or there abouts come round eight.

Let us know below who you think will line up in six and seven for the Blues.

Should they go with the winning formula or are there better options available?