Johns backs Moses-Walker pairing to level Origin series
NSW great Andrew Johns has urged Blues coach Michael Maguire to dump his State of Origin halves pairing and back Cody Walker and Mitchell Moses to level the series.
Maguire will on Sunday night reveal his team for the must-win Origin II in Melbourne, with up to five changes likely from the side that lost the series opener in Sydney.
One of his biggest decisions concerns the halves.
Nicho Hynes' game-one performance has come under heavy scrutiny, with questions over his polish in attack at Accor Stadium.
Moses shapes as the most likely replacement if Maguire opts to make a change, with the Parramatta star having three games under his belt since returning from a foot injury.
Walker is an option to oust Jarome Luai at five-eighth, with his chemistry with South Sydney teammate Latrell Mitchell shaping as a potent weapon for the Blues.
Mitchell is all but certain to claim the centre spot vacated by the suspended Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, and Johns believes his connection with Walker could help the Blues fight their way back into the series.
Cody Walker's (pictured) club connection with Latrell Mitchell could help fire the Blues. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)
"I'd go with Cody (at five-eighth), Latrell on the left with Cody," Johns said on the Nine Network's Sunday Footy Show.
"And Mitchell Moses (at halfback). It's nothing on Jarome's form, it's just combinations.
"Mitch Moses and Cody Walker complement each other far better than a Moses-Luai combination."
Former NSW coach Brad Fittler backed Johns's stance, which came less than 24 hours after Moses put in an influential display for Parramatta against the Sydney Roosters.
While the Eels lost Saturday night's game 28-18, interim Parramatta coach Trent Barrett - who played 11 games in the halves for the Blues - also made his opinion clear.
"From a State of Origin point of view, he's our best option," Barrett said of Moses.
"He was good (against the Roosters). He did some really good things again."
As well as changes to NSW's spine and backline, Maguire will also need to make a call on whether to play a utility on the bench.
Decisions also loom in the back row, with Liam Martin and Haumole Olakau'atu set to overcome injury scares and play for Penrith and Manly respectively on Sunday.
Cameron Murray is also back in the mix, after overcoming a hip injury and getting through his return game for South Sydney unscathed on Friday night.
Latrell Mitchell's Rabbitohs form is expected to earn him a State of Origin return for NSW. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)
And the fullback spot is again expected to command attention, with Dylan Edwards to return on Sunday from the ankle injury that cost him an Origin debut in game one.
James Tedesco sent a final reminder on Saturday of what he can offer when he starred for the Roosters against the Eels, playing a hand in three tries.
But even the former captain has conceded Edwards will likely take the No.1 jersey off him.
Tedesco was initially axed for the series opener before Edwards' injury opened an opportunity.
"If Dyl is fit and plays, he goes back in," Tedesco said.
"That's the way I see it. But we saw in the first game anything can happen, so we'll see."
POSSIBLE NSW SIDE FOR STATE OF ORIGIN II:
Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o, Stephen Crichton, Latrell Mitchell, Zac Lomax, Jarome Luai, Mitch Moses, Payne Haas, Reece Robson, Jake Trbojevic, Angus Crichton, Liam Martin, Cameron Murray. Bench: Matt Burton, Isaah Yeo, Spencer Leniu, Haumole Olakau'atu.