Why NSW gambling on a pair of sevens is such a big call
Scott Bailey |
Nathan Cleary and Mitch Moses are about to take a step into the relative unknown, as one of NSW’s most unique halves pairings in State of Origin history.
After 129 Origins across 45 years, Wednesday night will mark just the sixth game that NSW have partnered two traditional No.7s in the halves.
The previous duo was Trent Hodkinson and Mitchell Pearce in 2015.
Outside of that, Des Hasler played one game with each of Greg Alexander and Ricky Stuart in 1989 and 1990.
For the past week, Moses and Cleary have been adamant striking the right balance as a combination won’t be an issue.
Almost immediately upon walking into camp Moses accepted the role of being a running five-eighth, handing on-ball conductor duties to Cleary.
Moses will defend on the left, while both will likely have the freedom to attack on both sides.
In theory, the plan seems perfect. Moses and Cleary are two of the best playmakers in the NRL and both thrive in big moments.
How it works in practice may determine the fate of this series.
“Our situation was similar to Nathan and Mitch,” Hodkinson told AAP.
“Mitch is like that Pearcey style, he’s that hybrid half. He has a very strong running game, as does Nathan.
“But Nathan’s your more structured, direction type of halfback. So I think it really works.
“We did really well in that 2015 series.”
In the lead up to 2015, Pearce handed controlling duties to Hodkinson.
The pair linked up for a try in Origin I, but Pearce still had 18 more touches than the listed No.7 in the 11-10 loss.
And with the game in the balance, NSW fluffed a shot at field goal when Hodkinson was set for the shot but Pearce received the ball and flung it out wide.
Three weeks later, the touches evened out as NSW had their best attacking night since 2005 with a 26-18 win in Melbourne.
“That just comes with time together,” Hodkinson said.
“You don’t have a whole lot of time in camp. You have sessions, but an actual Origin game is totally different.
“So when you get the feel of that in game one … that definitely made it easier.
“Game one to game two, they’ll just build some more confidence. Hopefully they can get it going a lot earlier though.”
NSW, with little good ball to attack with, were beaten 52-6 in the 2015 decider.
Queensland’s only experience of two halfbacks together involved Johnathan Thurston at No.6 – and the NRL great notably spent parts of his career as a five-eighth.
Thurston and Cooper Cronk dominated between 2012 and 2017.
But even the great Maroons side lost every time Cronk was injured and another No.7 in Daly Cherry-Evans joined Thurston.
Almost all agree the biggest benefit of the Moses-Cleary partnership is their kicking game, a point coach Laurie Daley listed as a reason for the call.
“That is the yin and the yang that works for NSW,” Cronk said on the Matty & Cronk show this week.
“Let one go, the other one stands up.
“Moses is the best kicker from 50-metre plus. He will turn an average set into a great set.
“And if he can control the long-game kicking as it gets closer to the tryline, Nathan controls a little bit more.”
Blues selectors have toyed with other unique combinations in the past.
Andrew Johns came off the bench in 2000, and was listed at No.9 in the mid 1990s while No.7 Geoff Toovey largely played dummy-half.
AAP
