NSW assistant coach Danny Buderus has revealed the Blues could move incumbent halfback Nathan Cleary to five-eighth in Origin II.
Buderus’ comments come after Newcastle mentor Nathan Brown told NRL 360 during the week that Cleary, 21, plays more like a second-receiver than a traditional, dominant No.7.
“I’ve always thought Nathan Cleary was a five-eighth,” Brown said.
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“At this stage of his career, I don’t think Nathan Cleary is an on-ball halfback. That’s just me personally."
After Cleary and Cody Walker failed to lead NSW to victory last week, Brown advocated for Knights captain Mitchell Pearce to be recalled for the crucial clash against Queensland on June 23.
While Cleary and Pearce have never played alongside each other, Buderus is entertaining the notion of the pair combining in sky blue.
But for them to gel at the scrum-base, Cleary would have to play second-fiddle to Pearce and line-up at five-eighth.
"That could work," Buderus said on NRL 360 on Wednesday night.
"You look at the way [Cleary] plays – he's a great supporter, he's tough, defends well, kicks the ball well.
"Those are things that will go really well in the Origin arena at six."
NSW will have just three ballwork sessions before the match in Perth, making it a tough ask for a player to step in and take charge immediately.
Buderus said only a completely self-assured playmaker would be able to do the job – and he nominated Pearce as an example.
"We've got to win this game. We've got to pick a team that can win this game at the moment," Buderus said.
"A short preparation, only seven days [in camp], you need someone to come in – if they're going to come in – and be very confident about what they're going to do.
"At the moment, Mitchell Pearce is very confident, isn't he."
However, Buderus noted that it's still too early to lock in a squad given the carnage which occurred on the weekend the team was named for Origin I.
"Until they walk through the door on Sunday night, you can't get your heart set on any team," he said.
"After round 11 we had [Adam] Reynolds go down, we had Pearce go down and we had Luke Keary go down."
Though he isn't opposed to changes, Buderus believes the incumbent NSW players will improve drastically if they're retained after being able to review their performances in the series opener.
"I'm sure the boys who played game one would take advantage of a whole week of vision," he said.
"There's a lot to take out of that game and if we pick those guys again, they'd play better."