Brad Fittler encouraged to stick with Jarome Luai as Nicho Hynes looms large for Origin debut

There’s been plenty of chat about Nicho Hynes making his NSW debut, but Jarome Luai can silence some of that against Daly Cherry-Evans’ Sea Eagles.

Origin rivals clash this week with Jarome Luai hoping to beat Daly Cherry-Evans and the Sea Eagles to enhance his chances of playing for the Blues. Picture: NRL Photos

State of Origin is less than two months away and we get an early taste of the game’s greatest rivalry when NSW halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai take on Queensland playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans on Saturday night.

The showdown between the Panthers and Sea Eagles will count for nothing when the states square off in the series opener on May 31, but there will be bragging rights as the Sea Eagles look to snap a six-game losing streak to their western rivals.

Jarome Luai’s spot for the NSW No.6 jersey will be tested with calls for Nicho Hynes to make his Origin debut. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

While Cleary and Cherry-Evans are certain to wear the No.7 jerseys next month, Luai’s spot in the Blues side isn’t as concrete, with experts calling for Nicho Hynes to make his NSW debut after winning last year’s Dally M Medal.

Hynes makes an irresistible case given his ability to create from anywhere on the field, but it would be a huge call by Brad Fittler to drop Luai given he and Cleary teamed up to win the first two games of the 2021 series 76-6.

The reality is, however, that they couldn’t get the job done last year as raging favourites, which could open the door for Hynes who won’t play this week because the Sharks have the bye.

A win for Luai on Saturday would help his case, with the five-eighth warming into the new season with six tackle busts, two line-break assists and a try assist in the big win over Canberra.

Hynes was part of the NSW extended squad last year where he trained alongside Nathan Cleary. Picture: Richard Dobson

The fiery playmaker also deserves the chance to atone for last year’s series loss, which wasn’t a distraction as Luai helped the Panthers claim its second premiership in a row.

“They don’t talk about it here and their main focus is getting the job done for us, which they’ve been doing for a long time,” teammate Moses Leota said.

“I don’t really read into that, but if they pick Jarome, then he’d be a big asset to the team. He and ‘Clez’ have been playing really well in club footy and they’re a great duo.”

Middle forward Matt Eisenhuth isn’t too fussed about Origin chat in early April, but he says Fittler won’t go wrong if he sticks with the premiership-winning pairing.

“It’s probably a bit out of my range as a player, but I’m glad I’m not choosing,” he said.

“The formula has worked before with Jarome and Nathan, so if they pick on combos then they should stick with it.”