‘I’m not afraid to make change’: Laurie Daley subtly drops major NSW team clue

Laurie Daley doesn’t have to pick his first NSW Origin squad until next month, but the Blues coach is already dropping some major hints.

Returning Blues coach Laurie Daley has all but confirmed Nathan Cleary will be the NSW No.7 if he remains fit, with Mitchell Moses a chance of partnering him in the halves based on how well he played in last year’s series.

State of Origin is the only thing Cleary has yet to dominate in his glittering career, with the champion playmaker boasting a 7-7 record, with injuries limiting him to just one appearance across the past two series.

But it sounds like he’ll be one of the first players picked if he’s fit in a few weeks, with the four-time premiership winner also in the mix to captain the side for game 1 on May 28.

Nathan Cleary will be the NSW halfback if he’s fit for game 1. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“Nathan Cleary in my mind, if he’s not the best player, he’s the second best player in the game,” Daley said on NRL 360 on Monday night.

“If NSW run out without Nathan Cleary and he’s fit, I reckon we’re in a very, very, very, very, very strong position.”

Cleary’s likely selection leaves Daley with a conundrum at five-eighth, with Jarome Luai performing well last year and boasting a terrific combination with his former Panthers teammate.

But it would be hard to leave Moses out given he came in for the final two games last year and won them both, with the Eels star scoring the clincher in the decider at Suncorp Stadium.

Moses hasn’t played a game this season due to a foot injury but is scheduled to return in the coming weeks that would give him enough time to impress selectors.

“The key for Mitch is to obviously get back and play,” Daley said.

“I was really impressed with what he did in last year’s series. I think Mitch has got the ability to play five-eighth in Origin as well.

“I thought his kicking game was fantastic last year, and his ability to be able to make the plays when the game is on the line really impressed me, and we saw that in game 3.”

Zac Lomax and Mitchell Moses could both be in the Blues team for game 1, but not in their preferred positions. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Daley faces some tough choices in his second stint as Blues coach, with Latrell Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic and Bradman Best vying for the left centre role if they’re all fit, assuming Stephen Crichton lines up on the right.

One man who won’t play in the centres is Zac Lomax, who doesn’t see himself as a winger but was outstanding on the right edge for his state and country last year.

“I see Zac as a winger, not a centre at this level,” Daley said.

“If Zac is in the team, it’ll be on the wing, it won’t be in the centres.

“I think there are going to be some high-quality players miss out if they’re all fit. If they’re all fit for selection, then there’s going to be a tough decision.”

And while the Blues are coming off a famous comeback series victory, Daley has warned the incumbents that past success won’t mean everything when he picks his first team.

“I’m not afraid to make change,” he declared.

“Sometimes you learn that you need to be playing well leading into Origin to have that confidence, so I’ll be looking at players that are playing well.

“Guys that have been there in previous years – particularly last year – if they’re not playing well, then they’ll probably receive a phone call to remind them that if they want to be a part of it, then they’ll need to pick up their effort.”

Originally published as ‘I’m not afraid to make change’: Laurie Daley subtly drops major NSW team clue