Former Blues representative Ryan Girdler has thrown his support behind Nicho Hynes as New South Wales coach Brad Fittler contemplates who will replace Nathan Cleary at halfback.
Cleary suffered a hamstring injury in Penrith’s win over the Dragons last weekend and will miss Game II of Origin in Brisbane.
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The Blues must win at Suncorp if they are to avoid surrendering the series, with a defeat likely to cost Fittler his job as NSW coach.
News Corp journalist Brent Read claims Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses is the leading contender to fill Cleary’s boots, but Girdler felt Hynes should be given the nod due to his familiarity with this year’s set-up.
“All the talk in the last few days, and it’s coming from people who are in the know, ‘Gus’ Gould talked about it and ‘Gus’ is a Freddy confidant, is that Mitchell Moses is the guy they’re going to look at and turn to,” Read told Triple M’s Saturday Scrum.
Girdler replied: “You can build a case for Mitchell (Moses), you can build a great case for Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker and you can build a great case for Nicho Hynes.
“But it’s not about who comes in. It’s about who can Freddy (Fittler) sell this story to, who really understands the opportunity?
“I just think that the guys that have been in this series already, that have spent time preparing already … bringing in a new playmaker that hasn’t been in this series, [but] played a couple of series’ ago, you can build a story for him, but that wouldn’t be the way I’d go.”
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Queensland legends Corey Parker and Cooper Cronk remain adamant Felise Kaufusi should start over Jeremiah Nanai despite reports claiming the latter will be in the Maroons’ starting team for Origin II.
The Courier Mail reports Cowboys star Nanai is set to replace Dolphins standout Tom Gilbert for the second Origin clash at Suncorp Stadium.
It leaves Kaufusi, along with a raft of other Queensland enforcers, battling it out to fill the vacancy left by Jai Arrow who suffered an ankle injury against the Gold Coast Titans.
But Parker and Cronk believe Kaufusi, a constant presence in the Maroons squad over the years, should be an automatic selection as Queensland aims to wrap up the series.
“There’s no doubt Jeremiah Nanai is a terrific young player, but I’m picking Felise Kaufusi every day of the week, twice on Sunday in my team,” Parker said on Fox League’s Friday night coverage.
“He’s a 14-game veteran for the Queenslanders, he’s 31 years of age, he’s the ultimate professional.
“He does absolutely everything you want, everything you want, every time he takes the field whether it’s with the Dolphins, whether it’s Melbourne, whether it’s the Queenslanders.
“I’d be really surprised if Kaufusi wasn’t in the team.”
Another element of Kaufusi’s game Parker believes is necessary is the fact the Dolphins enforcer “understands” what’s required in big games.
“He puts fear in playmakers,” Parker said.
“If you want to dig too far into the line, you know Felise Kaufusi’s right shoulder is gonna bury somewhere in your ribs.
“He does all of those little defensive things, the kick pressures, the kick chase.
“That’s not to say Jeremiah Nanai doesn’t. He’s a wonderful player and brings a different style to Felise, but I’d be having Felise Kaufusi.”
Cronk, who played 22 Origin games for Queensland, felt there was a place for both in Billy Slater’s squad for the second game of the iconic series.
“I think Kaufusi’s owned that right edge for a period of time for the Queensland team and done a terrific job,” Cronk said.
“Nanai’s got that ability to be a part of the squad and have the impact off the bench, but again, you could switch them around.
“I imagine both will be in the squad somewhere.”
Slater is due to announce the Maroons squad for Game Two before Tuesday.