State of Origin: Mitchell Pearce is still the best halfback option for NSW Blues in bid for redemption

MITCHELL Pearce is the easy punching bag for angry NSW fans right now but getting rid of the halfback is not going to solve the Blues’ problems.

Mitchell Pearce has become the scapegoat again for NSW’s failings. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

MITCHELL Pearce is the easy punching bag for angry NSW fans right now but getting rid of the much-maligned halfback is not going to solve the Blues’ problems.

In the aftermath on Wednesday night’s Suncorp Stadium disaster, the blowtorch was directed straight at Pearce who has gone 18 Origins without a series win or a man of the match award.

While everyone wants to point the finger at Pearce — who admittedly didn’t have his best game in the decider — no one could argue he wasn’t the form playmaker available to NSW going into this series.

Even in hindsight you would struggle to find a better alternative.

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Mitchell Pearce has become the scapegoat again for NSW’s failings. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Matt Moylan is considered the man most likely to get the next shot at a halves berth although his form for Penrith hasn’t been great this year, while Adam Reynolds has hardly set the world on fire for Souths.

Jack Bird, who was used off the bench in all three games this series, is another option for 2018 at five-eighth.

With respect to Moylan, Bird and Reynolds, do you really think any of those players would have changed the result on Wednesday night?

You already know the answer even though it seems the majority still want to blame Pearce for the Blues’ 11th series loss in 12 attempts.

Like Andrew Johns and Phil Gould said, the problems for NSW go much deeper than singling out Pearce and it has more to do with overall leadership and mentality than the performance of any individual.

The fact is Cameron Smith was the best player on the field by a long way and his combination with Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater gave Queensland something NSW could only dream of having, regardless of who Laurie Daley picked.

Those three were at another level and that allowed Cameron Munster to slot in and play his natural game without having to take ownership of the team.

While Johnathan Thurston has already announced his retirement from the Origin arena, even if Cronk elects to bow out, the Queenslanders still have a long list of halves ready to take the next step.

Anthony Milford got a taste in game one this year while Munster, Michael Morgan, Daly Cherry-Evans, Corey Norman and potentially Ash Taylor are all on their radar.

Queensland boast just too much quality. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Compare that to the halves available for NSW. A list that really only includes Pearce, Maloney, Moylan, Bird, Adam Reynolds, Luke Keary, Chad Townsend and potentially Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses.

It’s hardly a fair playing field for whoever will be coaching NSW next year, if Daley doesn’t stay on.

Throw in the fact that hooker Nathan Peats also came under fire for not showing enough creativity at dummy half.

Like the Pearce debate, if it wasn’t Peats who else has the game to get anywhere near Smith?

Peats didn’t exactly cover himself in glory either. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Manly rake Api Koroisau was mentioned at one point and there is no doubt he is a young player with great potential.

But again, Queensland’s list of dummy-half options is much richer with the likes of Jake Friend, Andrew McCullough and Jake Granville far more experienced if and when Smith decides to call it a day.

The Blues have problems but if they don’t find the right solutions, they will linger and the same debate will start up again this time next year.