‘It hurts me’: NRL great wants NSW to pick untried Origin halves pair, dump Luai

There are growing calls for NSW to select an untried halves pairing for Origin II, even if it means ditching a Panthers star.

Jarome Luai and Adam Reynolds.

Former NSW hooker Michael Ennis believes the Blues should pick a new look halves pairing for State of Origin Game II, leaving Jarome Luai on the outer.

NSW lost Game I to Queensland and a hamstring injury to Nathan Cleary will force the Blues to go with a different pairing for the must win game on June 21.

Nicho Hynes, who came off the bench in jersey No. 14 in Game I is set to be elevated to the starting line-up at either halfback or five-eighth.

Also in the halves mix are Broncos halfback Adam Reynolds, Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses and South Sydney’s Cody Walker, who have all played for NSW at Origin level before.

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After Game I, Ennis said he would stick with the Cleary-Luai combination but given Cleary’s injury, he said he’d now back Reynolds to get the job done at Suncorp Stadium.

“Without Nathan, it probably opens the door for a bit of change,” Fox League’s Ennis told news.com.au.

“I’d be going with Adam Reynolds at halfback. I love the way that Adam plays. He’s one of those really level-headed, calm, composed halfbacks with the greats of the game.

Adam Reynolds is firming for an Origin recall. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Reynolds hasn’t played Origin since 2016. Photo: NRL photos

“He’s been taking on the line more. He’s been thriving on that responsibility for Brisbane. “He’s got the local knowledge. He knows Suncorp like the back of his hand. He’s been playing phenomenal footy there for the last 18 months. And he’s a big game player. He’s a premiership winning player.”

Ennis also said he’d pick Hynes at five-eighth for more creativity at that position, even if it means demoting Luai.

“I’d go with Nicho Hynes at five-eighth,” said Ennis, who played eight Origins for NSW.

“It hurts me to say that for Jarome Luai because I love Jarome Luai as a player, I really do. “It’s just the fact without Nathan there and with the way our attack struggled a bit in Adelaide — Nicho has been one of, if not the most creative player along with Cody Walker for the last 18 months.

“People might go ‘Why would you have Reynolds and Hynes there, they’re two halfbacks’. “Nicho’s got this incredible freedom with the way he plays — to be the game-managing half and also this roaming threat on both sides of the field.

Jarome Luai’s spot in the NSW team is under threat. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“We’ve seen him tear oppositions apart. His attacking numbers are through the roof but it’s more the way he’s seeing those moments, and I think his combination with Reynolds could be a very, very threatening one.

Ennis added coach Brad Fittler should prioritise bringing Latrell Mitchell into NSW’s line-up, even if it’s off limited training.

“I would be doing everything I can to get Latrell Mitchell in that side as well,” he said.

“His presence at Suncorp would be a huge bonus, he’s such a great player. It’d be an enormous confidence boost for his teammates for him to be back in that line-up.”

The Blues have been accused of going too Panthers-heavy but Ennis believes the theory Penrith’s style of football doesn’t suit Origin is a myth, and Cleary and Luai would have been better for the run in Game II.

“We’ve been forced into change, which is unfortunate,” Ennis said.

“The injury to Cleary is a huge one. I love the combination with Cleary and Luai and I felt like they would have been confident being able to level the series.

Nicho Hynes could move into NSW’s starting side. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I think both sides will attack better. Even if Cleary and Luai were fit, I think they would have attacked better.

“There’s no doubt there’s some things we could change with our attack, but that combination with Cleary, Luai and Isaah Yeo, it’s tried and tested on the biggest stage, they’ve won grand finals. I’m not sure that was the problem.”

Ennis said the Blues should be “excited” about the chance to level the series in Queensland’s backyard at Suncorp Stadium.

“I’m confident we can go there and can get it done, I really am,” he said.

“As a former player, I’m excited by the challenge of it. I think it’s a huge opportunity for us to make a statement in the series and show who we are and as a state.

“I think NSW’s players should be highly excited about going up there to level the series and to come home and win it.”

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