Mitchell Moses the leading contender to replace Nathan Cleary in Origin III

Braith Anasta has picked his man to replace Nathan Cleary in Origin III, but there’s several players in the running. Who do you want to see in the No.7? Vote now.

Who would be the best replacement for Nathan Cleary in Origin III?

There are plenty of halves who can replace Nathan Cleary for Origin III.

The trick will be finding someone who can do it again for NSW in the years to come.

Mitchell Moses, Adam Reynolds, Cody Walker, Jack Wighton, Mitchell Pearce and Matt Burton are all in with a shot, and the Eels’ Moses should be the front-runner, according to Fox League commentator Braith Anasta.

“He’s in good form, close to the best form he’s been in, but I think he’s only going to get better,” Anasta said.

“He’s confident and they do, in my opinion, need a genuine No.7. If you’re going to look to a player who can fill in for Jarome Luai and Cleary in the future, someone who can be next in line, and I think that’s Mitchell.”

According to Anasta, Moses’ stylistic similarities to Cleary make him a better fit than Wighton, Walker or Burton playing alongside Luai and his age makes him more attractive than Pearce or Reynolds.

“It probably works easier to bring in a genuine seven rather than playing two five-eighths,” Anasta said.

Who would be the best replacement for Nathan Cleary in Origin III?

THE SIX WHO CAN FIT INTO SEVEN

Mitchell Moses

Pros: In great form for Parramatta, boasts a more well-rounded skillset than any other contender and at 26 could still play in many series to come. Also has a pre-existing relationship with Fittler from their time with the Lebanese national side and played with Tedesco at Wests Tigers. The favourite, and a big game against Penrith should be enough to land the jersey.

Cons: Struggled defensively in the past but that part of his game has improved a lot in recent years. David Fifita will have him in his sights but a strong showing against Viliame Kikau on Friday night will do his case wonders.

Adam Reynolds

Pros: Has one of the best kicking games in the league and can replicate Cleary’s efforts as an on-field general. It’s easy to see him linking with Luai as easily as he does with Cody Walker at club level. Also boasts two games of Origin experience from the 2016 series.

Cons: The Blues might want to use this opportunity to blood a player with a longer future. Reynolds is still very effective, but at 30 his chances of a lengthier Origin return are slim.

Jack Wighton

Pros: Has been part of the Blues set-up all series, so would have trained alongside Luai at some point. They wouldn’t be starting from scratch. Fittler and Alexander are both huge fans and his physicality and athleticism would be an asset in Origin, as would his enormous left boot.

Cons: Primarily a left-side player, so Luai would have to move to the right and the Luai-Mitchell-Sims-To’o combination has been one of the side’s greatest weapons. For all his gifts, he’s not a noted organiser.

Matt Burton

Pros: Will partner Luai in the halves against Parramatta on Friday night and the two already have a strong combination. Clearly a player who will have a role in Origin at some stage, a dead-rubber at home is as good an introduction as the Blues could ask for.

Cons: Has only played 19 NRL games, six of which came in the halves. Like Wighton, to whom he bears several similarities, he isn’t an organiser.

Cody Walker would bring great form, but a limited kicking game to the Blues. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Cody Walker

Pros: In top form for the Rabbitohs and experienced at Origin level. Would suit the Blues high-octane attacking style and could make their middle even more dangerous because of his combination with Damien Cook.

Cons: His attacking kicking game is strong but Reynolds does almost all of the tactical kicking for the Rabbitohs. Perhaps too similar to Luai in style for them to gel.

Mitchell Pearce

Pros: No active NRL player has played for the Blues as many times as Pearce, so experience isn’t an issue. With the monkey off his back after he played in the 2019 decider the crushing pressure he carried for almost a decade is off his shoulders. Can run the side around the park and play his role.

Cons: Pearce is 32 and the Blues could want somebody to add a little fresh blood. The veteran has been playing well for the Knights but he’s only two games back from a pectoral injury that kept him sidelined for two and a half months.

Why Moses is  firming as the best option

— Dean Ritchie

A sublime kicking game rated the equal of Nathan Cleary has Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses ready to end an eight-year wait for NSW State of Origin selection.

The Daily Telegraph has been told Moses can nail a spot for Origin III with a strong performance against Penrith on Friday night.

Blues selectors haven’t finalised their side just yet for the July 14 dead-rubber but Moses is understood to be preferred ahead of two other options: switching Jarome Luai to halfback or elevating South Sydney’s Adam Reynolds.

Should he be selected, Moses would become the first Parramatta halfback to represent NSW since John Simon in 1997.

Mitchell Moses ticks many of the boxes NSW coach Brad Fittler needs for Origin III. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Ironically, Moses and Luai meet in a fascinating individual contest on Friday evening at BlueBet Stadium, Penrith.

Moses’ wonderful kicking has given him an edge in the battle to replace injured Cleary.

The Eels star has a strong long and high kicking game and continues to impress with his pressure kicking game.

Moses, 26, has the most try assists through kicks of any player in the NRL this year with 15 in 15 games. The next best is Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks back on 11.

And needing a goal kicker through Cleary’s absence, Moses has a 77 per cent success rate this season.

Moses’ defence has improved dramatically over the past two years while some of his attacking performances this year have been eye-catching.

And in another boost for his chance, Moses – who’s been earmarked as a NSW player since debuting for Wests Tigers back in 2014 – was halfback with Fittler the coach in Lebanon 2017 World Cup squad.

Nathan Cleary will go for scans on a shoulder injury, appeared to suffer in tackle below. Early expectation from NSW medical staff: minor issue, was able to finish game. Main concern by video is for shoulder subluxation, if confirmed could play Round 16 (most return: 1-3wks) pic.twitter.com/jbR4ynAKRZ

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 27, 2021

“Mitch has a great kicking game which is essential for big games as we’ve seen in games one and two,” said Moses uncle, former NSW captain, Ben Elias.

“His speed and quick service to the outside backs positions him as the number seven for NSW.”

NSW is still considering switching Luai to halfback and moving Jack Wighton off the bench into number six. And the ever-reliable Reynolds – who played Origin in 2016 – remains in contention.

Newcastle’s Mitchell Pearce and South Sydney’s Cody Walker will be discussed but are outsiders. Earlier this week, Moses was asked whether he would be ready for an Origin call-up.

“You‘d like to think so – if I wasn’t more than ready by now I’d be kicking myself,” he said. ”It’s completely up to Freddy and what direction he wants to go.”

Forward Jake Trbojevic – who missed Origin II through injury – has been overlooked for Manly’s match against Canterbury on Saturday afternoon at Bankwest Stadium.

NSW selectors still may opt for Trbojevic given Origin III is eight days after the Bulldogs game.

Given the thoroughly dominant series enjoyed by his side, NSW coach Brad Fittler will only change his line-up for game three through injury.

The TAB has NSW raging hot $1.14 favourites with Queensland $5.75 outsiders. Fittler will formally announce his side on Sunday night or Monday morning.

NRL officials are expected to confirm a venue for Origin III over the weekend.

Originally published as Mitchell Moses the leading contender to replace Nathan Cleary in Origin III