Queensland legend Johnathan Thurston wants to see Mitchell Pearce play second-fiddle to James Maloney in the halves for NSW in the Origin decider.
A long-time tormenter of the Blues, Thurston offered some genuine advice in saying they would be best served by choosing Pearce at five-eighth and pushing Maloney to halfback in the all-or-nothing game three.
Pearce is tipped to earn a recall after incumbent halfback Nathan Cleary sustained a suspected syndesmosis injury during NSW's thumping 38-6 game two victory
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Thurston thinks Maloney – the architect of the Blues' series-levelling win – should be allowed to direct play as he did in the second half on Sunday night with Cleary off injured.
The retired champion believes 18-time Blues playmaker Pearce, who has never won an Origin series in seven attempts, would feel less expectation if he isn't made to run the show.
Pearce and Maloney won a competition together at the Sydney Roosters in 2013 but Thurston says they should swap roles for Origin.
"I think you play Pearce at six, Maloney at seven. The way that he [Maloney] controlled the game last night was pure class and experience," Thurston told 100% Footy.
JT is backing Mitchell Pearce for Origin III. 👏 #9WWOS #NRL #100PercentFooty | TONIGHT 11.30pm pic.twitter.com/EOyj7ZDTUu
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) June 24, 2019
"He's a big game player, [he's won] premierships, Origins and he knows how to get the job done.
"I think that will take a lot of the pressure off Pearce."
Having played and dominated Pearce during NSW's barren trot in the early 2010s, Thurston was quick to opine that Pearce was harshly treated by his state and its fans.
But he reckons the demons will still be there for the Newcastle captain, hence why it makes sense to ease the responsibility from his shoulders by making Maloney the main man.
"I think he's pretty scarred – he's been the scapegoat for so many [losses]. It was very unfair," Thurston said.
"He's been in fine form and I'd pick him at six."
While Thurston's idea makes sense, Pearce might not be too keen on playing five-eighth.
He was set to be chosen for Origin II but withdrew with a minor injury – though The Sydney Morning Herald's Andrew Webster claims Pearce baulked when the selectors told him he'd wear the No.6 alongside Cleary.
Instead of allowing Pearce to play 'on the ball' and roam the field, the plan was reportedly to have Pearce and Cleary operating on separate sides of the ruck.
"[Pearce] wasn’t concerned about the number on his back — it means nothing these days — but how he was going to be used," Webster wrote.
" ... [Due to injury] he’d have only two field sessions in a new team, with a young half he’s never played with, in a match that needed to be won to force the series into a game-three decider in Sydney.
"So, with very little to win and everything to lose, Pearce ruled himself out."
