Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds is Michael Ennis’ pick to wear the Blues’ No.7 jersey in Origin II — but there’s still room for Nicho Hynes in the starting side.
He also believes there’s an opportunity to bring Damien Cook back into the 17 and has thrown his support behind a Panther that deserves a debut.
New South Wales coach Brad Fittler will need to find a new halfback after Nathan Cleary suffered a hamstring injury over the weekend while playing for Penrith.
Hynes, who played a bench utility role in game one, is in contention, while Reynolds’ name has also been floated.
Even before Cleary’s injury, there were calls for changes to the Blues spine, which have Jarome Luai’s spot at five-eighth under major threat.
But Ennis told foxsports.com.au had there been no injury he wouldn’t have changed the halves because not only does he “love” the Cleary-Luai combination, but he knows game two is going to get even harder and faster.
“Obviously we’ve been forced into change,” he said.
“I love the combination of Nathan and Jarome — and I said straight after the game that I wouldn’t have been making changes because Queensland are going to get better. That’s just how Origin series’ works.
“The first one is always quite physical and there’s a lot of emotion around it as players settle into that Origin type of footy which is while it’s a lot more physical and aggressive and fast — the referees put their whistle away for the spectacle — so the ruck speed takes a little bit of time to get used to.
“So in the second game they’re a lot more accustomed to it, combinations have then been in camp for two 10-day blocks and you tend to see a bit more fluency in attack. So I wouldn’t have been making too many changes if they weren’t forced into it.”
But given Cleary is unavailable for game two — and potentially game three — Ennis believes Fittler should turn to veteran halfback Reynolds.
“I would be going with Adam Reynolds at halfback,” he said.
“I’ve always loved the way Adam plays, he’s one of those traditional halves that’s never overawed by occasion. He’s a big-game player with an excellent kicking game and great temperament.”
And as to who partners him?
Ennis said he “loves” Luai but “circumstances and the significance of the game” has him going for Hynes at five-eighth.
“For anyone that’s watched the Sharks since he and Craig Fitzgibbon have combined, the roaming freedom that Craig’s given him to play both sides of the field and just scan and pull apart opposition defences when he sees it is as good as any player in the game,” he said.
“I think he’s only played nine games this year and his try assists and linebreak assists, his creativity even against Brisbane the other night — he didn’t have great end of sets, he’d admit his kicking game probably wasn’t where it needed be — but that period between the 20-minute mark and 60-minute mark he created a lot of opportunities to pull apart Brisbane’s right edge.
“I think the confidence he’s playing with alongside Reynolds would be a very dangerous combination.”
With Hynes moving into the starting side, a spot on the bench would open up. Ennis believes that should be filled by 15-time Origin representative and star hooker Damien Cook.
“I’m a huge fan of both of them (Cook and Blues starting hooker Api Koroisau),” he said.
“Api is more your crafty and more traditional dummy-half and I thought his effort in game one was outstanding. I thought his linespeed and his contact was great, no doubt they tried to target him but he handled it.
“He knocked out the 80 minutes with ease, but at the same time you don’t want to feel like he just has to survive or get through the 80 minutes. We want Api to create and attack.”
Meanwhile, Ennis would like to see Liam Martin and Cameron Murray start in the second row, providing the latter is fit to play after picking up a groin complaint last weekend.
He also called for Panthers prop Spencer Leniu to get an Origin debut at the expense of Tevita Pangai Junior.
“(Leniu) has been through the pathways for NSW, he’s got excellent legspeed, great play the ball speed, he’s aggressive and he’s coming out of a really good system where he knows how to train, knows how to prepare,” Ennis said.
“And I just don’t think he goes to Suncorp with any scars, he goes there with that robust mindset that he has.
“You feel the change in the game when he comes on for Penrith, you feel the momentum and energy shift when he comes on. When you come off the bench your job is to make a difference and he makes a difference.
“I think he would be highly valuable for NSW.
“It’s unfortunate for me it’d probably be Tevita Pangai Junior (that misses out).
“If you look at our pack we’ve got (Payne) Haas, Junior (Paulo) and I just think the game where it’s at at the moment, a lean, aggressive, mobile forward pack (works).
“If you look at (Pat) Carrigan, Tino (Fa’asuamaleaui), (Thomas) Flegler, Reuben Cotter for Queensland — Lindsay Collins is probably their biggest.
“I think we would be better suited just to carry Haas and Junior then surround them with some guys like Martin, Murray, (Isaah) Yeo and Spencer Leniu — those type of guys that are lean, athletic.”
