‘NSW will eat their own’: Origin selection debate proof Blues are ‘in trouble’

Nathan Cleary’s injury has thrown a spanner in the works for NSW and choosing his replacement is set to be a selection nightmare.

The contenders to replace Nathan Cleary.

There are growing calls for Adam Reynolds to replace Nathan Cleary as NSW’s halfback for State of Origin Game II, as the Blues face a nightmare selection headache.

Cleary suffered a hamstring injury in Penrith’s win over the Dragons on Sunday and is set to be sidelined for six weeks, all but ruling him out of the remainder of the series.

The injury will prompt a major reshuffle in NSW’s halves combination, with several players in the frame to replace the Panthers star at halfback.

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Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes came off the bench in jersey No. 14 in Game I, and he could be elevated to the starting line-up to pair up with Jarome Luai.

But given Luai’s connection to Cleary, the Blues could go into Game II in Brisbane with a completely new-look five-eighth and halfback.

Hynes, Reynolds, Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses and South Sydney’s Cody Walker are all in the mix for a selection call that is sure to give NSW coach Brad Fittler plenty of headaches.

All five options, including Luai, have played for NSW before, but a must-win game in enemy territory is as high stakes as it gets.

Adam Reynolds is a contender to replace Nathan Cleary. (Photo by Kerry Marshall/Getty Images)

Game II will be played at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium and Reynolds’ masterful kicking game for the Broncos there could be a major advantage for the Blues in Queensland’s cauldron.

News Corp’s Brent Read said on Fox League’s NRL 360: “One thing you’ve got to get right if you’re NSW going to Brisbane — you’ve got to get your kicking game right.

“You’ve got to pin Queensland down. Can you do that Luai and Hynes as your halves? I’m not sure you can.”

Read also believes Moses’ “kicking game would be immense in Brisbane”.

“He’s played for NSW before. Going up there, you’ve got to nail their kicking game.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield said: “My heart says Nicho Hynes because he’s there, he played 14 and he’s there with the squad.

“But my head says Adam Reynolds. He knows Suncorp so well. He’s a big game player.

“Outside of Cleary, he has been the form halfback in the comp.

“If Nicho plays well and leads Cronulla to victory (this weekend), you pick him.”

Nicho Hynes is in NSW’s squad and could be elevated to starting halfback. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Rothfield said it was crucial the Blues don’t “tear the side completely apart”.

Cleary’s injury also means Luai’s position at five-eighth is under threat, with Cody Walker looming as the popular replacement for the Panthers star.

“I don’t think Luai holds onto his jersey,” Gorden Tallis said.

“I thought he was a bit of a package deal with Cleary. I thought that was the combination.

“The one that plays closest to Cleary is Adam Reynolds.”

Matty Johns said he would pick Hynes at halfback and Walker at five-eighth.

“Nathan was the centrepiece. It puts a lot of pressure on Luai now to retain his spot.,” Johns said.

“Nicho Hynes deserves his chance. If he doesn’t get picked now, he’s not going to be picked.

“I want Cody Walker at six. I’d have Nicho on the right, I’d have Cody on the left — he’s the best left side specialist in the game. And I’d have (Damien) Cook at 14.”

Read said: “If you pick Reynolds, you go with Walker at six. If you pick Mitch (Moses), then Luai’s still your six.”

It might be a case of too many options for NSW’s brains trust of Fittler and Greg Alexander.

“I feel sorry for Brandy and Freddy,” Braith Anasta said.

Jarome Luai is under pressure to keep his spot. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Cody Walker could be the creative five-eighth NSW needs. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

“So much pressure on this decision. So many combinations you could go with. You could go with Nicho Hynes and Cody Walker. You could go with Reynolds and Cody Walker. You could go with Luai and Hynes.

“Long story short, NSW is in some trouble. What do they do with the centres?”

There are also questions marks over Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell, who didn’t play for the Rabbitohs on the weekend and will need to recover from a calf niggle in time for Game II on June 21.

“If Tom and Latrell are fit, you cannot leave them out of your team,” Read said.

Cooper Cronk joked: “It’s good to be a Queenslander because over this decision NSW will basically eat their own this week, working out who they’re going to.”

“If I had to choose I’m picking Reynolds, I’m starting Nicho on the bench and bringing him on in the first half. Luai stays,” Cronk said.

Queensland’s Tom Gilbert and Jai Arrow have been ruled out of the remainder of the series with injury.

Jeremiah Nanai, Christian Welch, Corey Horsborough and Felise Kaufusi are all in the mix to come into the Maroons line-up.