Matty Johns: How Laurie Daley manages two dominant halves will go a long way to deciding Origin I

New South Wales are far more than the Nathan Cleary and Mitch Moses show, writes MATTY JOHNS, but there’s no doubt that finding a way to makes two halves into a whole, is the biggest challenge facing the Blues.

Nathan Cleary, it’s his time.

I’ve no doubt that when Cleary sat down in February and outlined his goals for 2025, dominating this State of Origin series would have been at the top of the page.

He had a slow start to the NRL season by his standards, but you could excuse him and his Penrith Panthers team if they were struggling for motivation, given their achievements and the amount of football they have played in the last five years.

With his forwards struggling to give him space and time, Cleary found himself drifting sideways with little of his normal upfield thrust.

But, in recent weeks, Cleary has adjusted and returned to direct playmaking. As a result, he and his Panthers have improved dramatically.

Cleary now looks primed for this challenge.

Cleary will dominate this series in a way only the very elite, the great ones have done.

Can NSW find a way to get the best from both Nathan Cleary (L) and Mitchell Moses (R)? Picture: Getty Images

It will be Cleary’s attacking kicks which will win New South Wales this series if his yardage men can assume dominance. And coach Laurie Daley has selected the right team to do it.

It’s all about the back three – Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o and Zac Lomax. You can’t put together a better wing/fullback combination to drive a team up field.

This three-man combination is as important as Cleary and his halves partner, Mitchell Moses.

They’ll be times in the match when To’o, Lomax and Edwards take every possession in yardage, shifting enormous pressure off the Blues forwards, who will be able to channel the majority of their energy into defence.

On paper, and in theory, Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses are a colossal combination, but games are won and lost on grass, not on a whiteboard. It will be interesting to see the dynamic between these two dominant halfbacks.

WHY MOSES MUST TAKE A STEP BACK

Way back on the 1990 Kangaroo tour, coach Bob Fulton faced a difficult decision heading into the first Test at Wembley.

In his squad were two iconic number 7s, Ricky Stuart and Allan Langer

Both players were in dazzling form and so the decision was made to select both.

Alf in the seven jersey, Ricky in the six.

On paper a lethal combination, but on the pitch it was oil and water, the attack never got going and for game two, Langer made way for a pure five-eighth, Cliff Lyons.

However, in the Blues’ favour is that Cleary and Moses play a style of football which isn’t dramatically different, compared to that of Stuart and Langer.

But one will still need to adjust their game and take a half step back.

Given Moses has been handed the No. 6 jersey, expect the Parramatta halfback to suppress his want to dominate attacking sets.

One thing both halves share in common is the danger their running game causes a defence.

When I see both run the ball early, I know their focus and compass is set right.

TRAP THE BLUES MUST AVOID

And that’s what they must do to get the attack rolling north/south.

In the opening 20 minutes, the Blues can’t fall into the trap of shuffling the ball toward the touch lines.

Blues centres Stephen Crichton and Latrell Mitchell are big weapons, particularly if the Maroons are forced to defend on their heels. And that only happens by driving holes through the middle defence first.

Captain and lock Isaah Yeo is a key man in NSW playing through Queensland.

At times, Yeo can become a little pass happy, but in the game two and three victories last year, he was magnificent.

For the most part, he feigned his pass and instead ran at the defence, his late footwork allowing him to punch through and create momentum for his halves, who starred as a result.

I love the team Daley has selected, it’s beautifully balanced and when I see names like Mitchell, Crichton, Cleary and Payne Haas on the team sheet, I’m finding it difficult to feel anything but supreme confidence.