Things can change pretty quickly in rugby league. Just ask Brad Fittler.
Only a few days ago he was sitting in the coaches on box at Adelaide Oval left to make sense of a disjointed performance that even he admitted left him “surprised”.
Still, Fittler remained largely unfazed — refusing to jump to any conclusions or hint at any mass changes, instead confident that a few tweaks would be enough to reverse the result.
In the background though, the calls were growing louder.
Calls for skipper James Tedesco to be dropped. Calls to split up a premiership-winning halves partnership. Calls to get reigning Dally M medallist Nicho Hynes more than eight minutes.
In the end, Fittler won’t have a choice, with Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary ruled out for the remainder of the series with a grade-two hamstring injury.
Now Fittler is forced to find a new halfback for game two and while the solution may seem simple, there is one other alternative that is quickly gaining momentum.
Here, foxsports.com.au looks at the contenders to replace Cleary.
ADAM REYNOLDS
Reynolds hasn’t played in the Origin arena since 2016, when he played in the opening two losses for the Blues before being ruled out of the dead rubber with a shoulder injury.
But the 32-year-old is obviously not short of big-game experience, having helped the Rabbitohs to one premiership and a total of eight finals appearances in his time at the club.
If there is one distinct advantage Reynolds has, it is the fact he now plays for the Broncos meaning he is used to running out at Suncorp Stadium — the venue for Origin II.
“He knows that stadium very well,” former Queensland Origin halfback Cooper Cronk said on Fox League on Sunday.
That would prove particularly important in allowing Reynolds to get into his rhythm early in the game, knowing how to judge the conditions and kick to corners.
Reynolds averages 425 kick metres as the leader of a Broncos team that has emerged as a premiership force this year, with a lot of their success going back to the premiership-winning halfback.
While Cleary’s kicking game may have lacked variety in the series opener, the Panthers halfback is still generally one of the best in the league at winning back momentum with his work off the boot.
Blues advisor Greg Alexander admitted on SEN 1170that Reynolds’ long-range kicking game was the best of all the potential replacements for Cleary in game two.
“Reynolds has been in great form and I’ve said this year, Reynolds is playing as good now as he ever did,” Alexander said on Monday.
“Mitchell Moses has a fair kicking game as well, long and short, and Nicho Hynes isn’t rusty either with the boot. But if you’re talking about the best kicking half, Reynolds has that after Nathan Cleary.”
Of course, recalling Reynolds would then open up the potential to reunite the experienced halfback with former halves partner Cody Walker.
The pair played 106 games together, with their last ending in heartbreak as South Sydney went down 14-12 to Penrith in the 2021 grand final.
But losing wasn’t something Walker and Reynolds experienced too much during their time at the Rabbitohs, dropping just 32 games for the best winning percentage (69.8) of any halves combination to play 100 or more matches together since 1980.
“There is a serious case for Adam Reynolds,” Matty Johns said on SEN 1170.
“He’s so composed and the other night (against the Sharks) those last-tackle options and the week before against the Warriors were first-class.
“... He’s playing so well right now and is probably playing better than he did the couple of years after he won the premiership with Souths. His short kicking game at Suncorp Stadium would be a huge plus as well.”
What would make Reynolds’ potential inclusion particularly interesting though is what it could mean for Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook, who was left out of the team for game one.
With Latrell Mitchell expected to return from a calf injury for the must-win Suncorp clash, the temptation would be there for Fittler to recall Cook and move Api Koroisau to the bench.
“If you go with Reynolds and Walker in the halves, then it makes sense to put Cook in at nine and have Api Koroisau come off the bench,” former Blues five-eighth Jamie Soward told NCA Newswire.
“Api is the best hooker in the game right now, but don’t forget that when Penrith won back-to-back comps, Api was coming off the bench and came on when the game opened up.”
“Adam and Cody fell two points short of winning the 2021 comp against a team that will go down as one of the best ever in Penrith, so they know how to get there.”
REYNOLDS BY NUMBERS
Passing
Possessions: 49.1
Try assists: 1.0
Total try involvements: 1.5
Linebreak assists: 0.9
Running
Run metres: 19.7
Tackle busts: 1.2
Linebreaks: 0.1
Kicking
Kick metres: 425
Forced dropouts: 0.8
Goal kicking: 73 per cent
Discipline
Errors: 1.2
Missed tackles: 1.2
CODY WALKER
Moving on to Walker, the only way he comes into the team would be if Jarome Luai was dropped.
Otherwise, a Luai-Walker combination would make no sense as the pair have a very similar style of game at five-eighth and offer little in terms of traditional halfback play.
Matty Johns though said on SEN 1170 that Walker has to be in the team, either at five-eighth or otherwise as a utility option off the bench.
“Cody Walker has to come into the 17,” Johns said on Monday.
“He’s just a multidimensional weapon. If you’re going to retain Jarome on the left-hand side, Cody is your 14. If you’re going to go all-in on Cody... because he’s the guy that really gets Latrell going... then Damien Cook is my 14.”
Mitchell told foxsports.com.au as much in Decemberwhen speaking about his combination with Walker, which has only grown stronger in 2023.
“I really enjoy playing alongside him and I love his competitiveness and it brings the best out of me and I know I bring the best out of him when we are switched on and doing our job together,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell and Walker have combined for 60 total try involvements this year, even as South Sydney has evolved its game to be a more right-side dominant team in attack.
WALKER BY NUMBERS
Passing
Possessions: 44.6
Try assists: 1.4
Total try involvements: 2.5
Linebreak assists: 1.6
Running
Run metres: 36.7
Tackle busts: 1.9
Linebreaks: 0.6
Kicking
Kick metres: 190
Forced dropouts: 0.4
Goal kicking: N/A
Discipline
Errors: 1.1
Missed tackles: 2.4
NICHO HYNES
Now moving on to the most logical option.
In some ways the injury to Cleary could simply just free Fittler of another headache — how to get Hynes, the reigning Dally M medallist, involved.
Hynes was left sitting on the bench for 68 minutes in game one before eventually getting the call-up when Tom Trbojevic was forced off after suffering a head knock.
The Sharks halfback though looked out of place defending in the centres and Fittler even admitted post-game Hynes was unlikely to get a run if it wasn’t for Trbojevic going off.
Instead, it seemed like the only other hope for getting minutes into Hynes was Koroisau tiring and leaving the Blues in need of spark through the middle.
Put simply, NSW had to find someone better suited to the role while also deciding whether Hynes would come into the starting team or be left out entirely.
Now the decision may well have been made for them, at least that is what Johns thinks.
While the former Blues five-eighth sees merit in bringing in someone of Reynolds’ experience, he simply said this is “Nicho’s time” to shine.
“He’s been in that New South Wales system waiting for his opportunity,” Johns said on SEN 1170.
“Here it is. I thought against the Broncos the other night, he was playing in a pack that was beaten and was brilliant, he couldn’t have done any more.
“For me, Nicho is not a 14 because you can’t throw Nicho on at 9. Just because Api Koroisau can play 80 minutes doesn’t mean you allow him to play 80 because your hooker, you want him to have some zip. For Nicho he’s either your halfback or not in the squad.
“He’s my seven. His playmaking has improved dramatically, his ability to handle pressure is first-class, he’s done that in the last 18 months at Cronulla very, very well.”
Soward though expressed concern over Hynes’ kicking game, particularly close to the line, as one reason to lean towards the experienced Reynolds as the better option.
“Nicho is having a good year but even he’d say that his last play options on the weekend weren’t great, and that comes into it if he’s paired with Luai because Nathan is the main kicker,” Soward said.
While Reynolds may have the upper hand with his superior kicking game, Hynes has the edge as the more noted running threat of the too and that is important when replacing Cleary.
Former Blues player Ryan Girdler had spoken about Cleary’s lack of a running game in the series opener, believing the Panthers halfback was too quick to delegate and not back himself.
Cleary had his best game of the season last month against Brisbane, setting the tone with his running game as he finished with 111 metres, six tackle busts, two linebreaks and a try.
Averaging 72.1 running metres per game, Hynes shapes as the most like-for-like replacement.
“But it’s his athleticism that gives him a real advantage over Adam, I thought in game one we were too pass-centric,” Johns said.
“Nicho’s run-first mentality will really simplify things and straighten us up. This is what he has been groomed for in the last couple of seasons. If they don’t pick him now, I don’t know where he sits.”
Hynes would also give the Blues a sharpshooter to take over Cleary’s goal-kicking duties, with the Sharks halfback boasting an 83 per cent success rate this year.
Cameron Smith said on SEN 1170 that giving his former teammate the extra responsibility wouldn’t be too much pressure, although he added Stephen Crichton could also take on the role if he is retained.
“I think the thing that is most likely to happen is that Nicho Hynes moves straight into that seven position,” Smith said.
“If you give him those duties [goal-kicking], it’s more of a role that he plays every week so he feels natural in that role. I don’t think he feels overawed by having goal-kicking duties playing in his second game.
“But you do have a guy in there that has a very high successful percentage kicking rate in Stephen Crichton. That’s if he’s playing.”
HYNES BY NUMBERS
Passing
Possessions: 73.7
Try assists: 1.3
Total try involvements: 2.4
Linebreak assists: 2.4
Running
Run metres: 72.1
Tackle busts: 3.0
Linebreaks: 0.4
Kicking
Kick metres: 468
Forced dropouts: 0.8
Goal kicking: 83 per cent
Discipline
Errors: 2.2
Missed tackles: 1.4
JAROME LUAI
Really, the only question for coach Fittler is whether his halfback for game two is Reynolds or Hynes.
If it’s Reynolds, then it makes sense to go for Walker alongside him given the pair’s familiarity playing together.
If Hynes gets the nod though, Luai didn’t do anything in the series opener to warrant being dropped. In fact, Luai outperformed teammate Cleary.
But again, the bigger concern for Fittler is whether the focus on club combinations means taking advantage of that South Sydney connection, particularly with Mitchell also set to return.
“Jarome was really good in game one, I thought he was one of our better players,” Johns said.
“He probably was our best playmaker.
“However, does he retain that position? Is there a better option, particularly with Latrell coming back into the side. The relationship between Cody Walker and Latrell on that side is such a special one.”
For what it’s worth, Luai told reporters after Penrith’s 26-18 win over the Dragons on the weekend that he would like to see Hynes rewarded with the vacant halfback spot.
“We’ve got a guy like Nicho there with a Dally M, he’s been in camp for the last two State of Origin series and he’s ready for it,” Luai said, per NRL.com.
“That’s what footy’s about, getting an opportunity and then stepping up on the day.
“He’s definitely capable of that and I’ll back him.”
LUAI BY NUMBERS
Passing
Possessions: 41.0
Try assists: 0.6
Total try involvements: 0.8
Linebreak assists: 0.7
Running
Run metres: 59.4
Tackle busts: 3.8
Linebreaks: 0.3
Kicking
Kick metres: 45
Forced dropouts: 0.1
Goal kicking: N/A
Discipline
Errors: 1.2
Missed tackles: 1.9
MITCHELL MOSES
OK, so right off the bat this one is unlikely. Moses has a much-improved kicking game, which was actually the difference when Parramatta and Cleary’s Penrith met earlier in the season.
But it seems like Hynes is the frontrunner if Fittler was looking for a straight swap.
Moses does have Origin experience though, having played through the pain of a fractured back as the Eels halfback made his Blues debut in game three of the 2021 series.
Moses was called into the team after Cleary was ruled out with a shoulder injury, setting up two tries to go with a linebreak assist and 399 kick metres in a 20-18 loss.
The 28-year-old has been in fine form for Parramatta this year even if last year’s grand finalists have been disappointing, struggling for form with multiple injuries up front.
That in turn has made it hard for Moses to get much of a platform to play off, although it has also challenged him to better use his kicking game to turn opposition defences around.
MOSES BY NUMBERS
Passing
Possessions: 46.8
Try assists: 0.9
Total try involvements: 1.7
Linebreak assists: 0.7
Running
Run metres: 48.5
Tackle busts: 1.7
Linebreaks: 0.5
Kicking
Kick metres: 477
Forced dropouts: 0.8
Goal kicking: 78 per cent
Discipline
Errors: 1.0
Missed tackles: 2.1
MATT BURTON
If Moses’ chances are unlikely, the possibility of Burton being thrown into the starting side appears slim at best.
That doesn’t mean the Bulldogs five-eighth won’t be recalled into the Blues’ 17 for game two, particularly if Hynes is named to fill in for Cleary.
That would leave NSW in need of a new bench utility and there aren’t many better candidates than Burton, who is capable of playing all across the backline.
The 23-year-old would also be able to handle the increased physicality that comes with defending in the middle, should Fittler prefer to use him there as a ball-playing option.
Then you add in Burton’s towering bombs and his connection with Bulldogs flyer Josh Addo-Carr, which would offer the Blues a bit of much-needed variety and unpredictability in attack.
BURTON BY NUMBERS
Passing
Possessions: 45.2
Try assists: 0.9
Total try involvements: 1.3
Linebreak assists: 0.5
Running
Run metres: 57.6
Tackle busts: 2.4
Linebreaks: 0.3
Kicking
Kick metres: 373
Forced dropouts: 0.8
Goal kicking: 75 per cent
Discipline
Errors: 1.0
Missed tackles: 2.2
