State of Origin: Phil Gould pushes for Mitchell Moses to replace Nathan Cleary for the Blues

Phil Gould believes Nicho Hynes lacks the experience to replace injured NSW half Nathan Cleary for Origin II and has instead pushed the case of Parramatta playmaker Mitchell Moses.

Who should the Blues pick to replace Nathan Cleary

NSW’s most successful State of Origin coach believes the Blues should turn to Mitchell Moses to save the series at Suncorp Stadium.

Former Blues boss Phil Gould says that if he was still coach, Moses would be his first choice to replace the injured Nathan Cleary in Origin II.

“My personal choice would be Mitchell Moses,” Gould told 100% Footy on the Nine Network.

“That is just my personal choice. I think you need to consider where we are going and what the atmosphere and the football is going to be like.

Phil Gould (inset) has pushed for Mitchell Moses to replace Nathan Cleary for the Blues.

“He has a lot of aspects to his game that I like. If there wasn’t a Nathan Cleary around he would have probably played another half a dozen Origins.

“He came in to replace him once and I didn’t think he was all that bad on the night. He will be better for the experience.

“That is just my personal choice. I would be going with him - I think he still has speed, he has a great kicking game, he has a long kicking game and a short kicking game.

“His long kicking game will be invaluable in Origin and he creates points. I just thought that he would fit the bill nicely. Look, if I were coaching, he would be my first choice.”

Moses played his one and only Origin game two years ago. The Blues lost that game but Moses didn’t look out of place.

It later emerged he had played more than 70 minutes of the game with fractured bones in his back after being crunched by Felise Kaufusi.

He is now under consideration to make a second appearance for the Blues as they weigh up their options in the absence of Cleary, who tore his hamstring playing for Penrith at the weekend.

As well as Moses, the Blues are expected to consider Brisbane half Adam Reynolds and Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes, who made his debut off the bench in the opening game of the series.

Gould suggested Hynes was more suited to staying on the bench.

“I think Nicho Hynes is perfectly suited to the role they gave him in game one,” Gould said.

“Nicho was picked for his versatility. I still think we need to get a specialist experienced halfback into that role.”

PROS AND CONS: WHO SHOULD REPLACE CLEARY AT THE BLUES?

NSW fans want to see Cronulla star Nicho Hynes come in for injured halfback Nathan Cleary but is the Dally M medallist the right man for the job?

Brad Fittler is scrambling to find a replacement for Cleary after the Blues halfback was rubbed out of the Origin series with a hamstring injury.

Fittler has options in the likes of Cronulla’s Hynes, Brisbane’s Adam Reynolds and Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses.

The decision could either save, or end, Fittler’s run as NSW coach.

Only a win in this series will trigger an extension clause in Fittler’s contract with the NSWRL.

But the incoming number 7 will not only have to shoulder that burden but the hopes of an entire state with the series on the line at Suncorp Stadium on June 21.

We run the rule over the top contenders in line to replace Cleary for the rest of the series.

Who should the Blues pick to replace Nathan Cleary

NICHO HYNES

Games: 70 games

Origin Games: 1

Key Stat: 22 linebreak assists

Goal Kicking: 40/48 (83%)

PROS

The Cronulla halfback already knows Fittler’s game plan, play book, and of course has had 10 days training alongside five-eighth Jarome Luai, who is likely to be retained.

It means Hynes can focus on his combination with Luai without wasting any time acclimatising to a new face in the halves.

The selection also makes sense to the 64 per cent of Blues fans that want to see Hynes run out at Suncorp Stadium (see below).

Hynes’ Blues debut in game one was a subdued affair, with the playmaker only getting on the field to cover for Tom Trbojevic at centre late in the second half.

This time, Hynes will get the chance to step into the role that elevated him to NRL’s best player as the reigning Dally M medallist.

There Hynes can showcase what makes him so good. Of the contenders, he leads the tally for line break assists at 22 so far for the season.

When Hynes is playing on the front foot his ability to create attacking opportunities, and create space for the men around him is second to none.

Nicho Hynes of the Sharks. Picture: Getty Images

CONS

If Fittler opts for Hynes, he’ll be thrusting the 26-year old into the biggest game of his life. Hynes is the Dally M medallist but unlike the other contenders, premiership winner Adam Reynolds and grand finalist Mitchell Moses, his big game experience has been limited.

Add to that the pressure of being anointed as the general of a Blues side that must find a way to beat the Maroons in front of a packed house at Suncorp Stadium.

For Fittler, then, there might be more value in a halfback that can respond in kind when Queensland halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster tighten the screws, than in a player simply familiar with the Blues set-up.

ADAM REYNOLDS

Games: 264

Origin Games: 2

Key Stat: 13 try assists, three field goals

Goal Kicking: 44/60 (73%)

PROS

At 32-years old, Adam Reynolds has never been in more control of his game, or his football team.

Even Reynolds himself has said he is seeing the game more clearly, and that everything around him has slowed down.

It’s the reason Reynolds cannot only pinpoint opposition weaknesses but exploit them.

That ruthlessness is something the Blues have lacked in the past. Reynolds now understands that a game is won in the mind as much as it is by the body.

Like when the Broncos were trailing against the Dragons 16-6 and he slotted a two-point field goal right on half time. He knew it would be a mental boost. The Broncos went on to win 40-18.

Since his last NSW appearance in 2016, Reynolds has arguably mastered the skills needed to ‘get’ Origin.

Reynolds, who is familiar with Suncorp Stadium, would be the player the Maroons want to least see run out in game two on June 21.

Working in his favour is one of the best kicking games in the competition. At his best, Reynolds’ short kicking game and game management rivals that of Cleary.

Captain of the Broncos, Adam Reynolds. Picture: Getty Images

CONS

Reynolds is as tough as they come but the Broncos playmaker has already had one serious head knock this year and struggled with a painful rib injury last season.

Reynolds has been as durable as any half in recent seasons but will undoubtedly have a target on his back, as the most important man on the field for the Blues.

If Reynolds were to go down, and Fittler goes back to the two-hooker rotation with Damien Cook taking Hynes’ bench spot, it leaves the Blues in a hole in the halves.

MITCHELL MOSES

Games: 210

Origin Games: 1

Key Stat: 10 forced dropouts

Goal Kicking: 45/57 (79%)

PROS

The last time Moses got his chance to replace Cleary back in 2021, the Blues lost the dead rubber match.

But Moses’ game for Parramatta since then has only gone from strength to strength, even helping guide the Eels to a grand final appearance last year.

At 28-years old, Moses is entering his prime as a playmaker and his form has been the proof.

Moses has forced 10 dropouts so far, slotted two field goals – one which sank Cleary’s Panthers back in round four – and looks more comfortable than ever owning the big moments.

When it comes to general play kicking, Moses offers Fittler the closest like-for-like replacement for Cleary.

While forming a halves combination with Luai will take time, 11 players from his debut match for the Blues are likely to be selected again for game two.

Mitchell Moses of the Eels. Picture: Getty Images

CONS

There are little concerns over Moses’ kicking game, ability to run the ball or even his defence these days. Like Hynes, the biggest question mark would be over his ability to weather the heat of the Origin cauldron in a high-pressure match.

Moses got a taste of that high stakes football in last year’s grand final, where there are no second chances, but Origin in itself is a different beast.

But Moses does know about shouldering the burden of expectation as the halfback of an NRL club whose fans are suffering through a 37-year title drought.