'Don't think that would be an issue': Eels coach Jason Ryles answers burning State of Origin question

Jason Ryles has backed Mitchell Moses to play wherever required should he earn a spot in the NSW Blues team for this month's State of Origin opener.

Debate has been running rampant in recent weeks regarding the make-up of the halves, with Moses in a tight battle with Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai for a position.

The 30-year-old Parramatta star is one of the incumbents alongside Luai, but has only played two games this season due to a foot injury.

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Cleary on the other hand only missed last year's 2-1 series win due to his own injury concerns, which allowed Moses to make his mark on the game's biggest stage.

Speaking to media on Wednesday, Ryles was quizzed about whether Moses would be open to taking a back seat and shifting to five-eighth to accommodate Cleary's return.

His response gives a clear indication into the Eels captain's mindset.

"I think Mitchell would be happy to play wherever they put him," Ryles said.

"It means a fair bit to him, so I don't think that would be an issue if he was selected.

"If I was picking the Parramatta team, he's my seven - that's as far [as I will go].

"I think there's enough pressure and commentary on the Origin stuff and I've been in it as a player and then watched it from the outside.

"We're aware of Mitch's influence on our footy team - players certainly get confidence when he's putting his boots on. He drives standards, he's a great organiser for us and he kicks the ball well. He's certainly an integral part of our footy club.

"He's always striving to be better every day."

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Moses was instrumental in Parramatta's win over the Wests Tigers last month, before a bye and a narrow loss to the Sharks kept the side on the bottom of the NRL ladder.

The other incumbent NSW player from the Eels who is pushing to keep his spot is Zac Lomax, who hasn't played since April 5 due to a broken foot.

Ryles said the club was hopeful Lomax could return before Laurie Daley names his squad at the end of round 11, but wouldn't rush him back just for Origin purposes.

"That's not even in my thought process," the former NSW enforcer said.

"Having experienced it myself, if you get your footy right here, Origin looks after itself.

"He's really good, we're probably having to hold him back a little bit. We're aiming for next week, but we'll have to wait and see how he goes each day.

"He's a bit like Mitchell when he had his foot as well, just making sure they don't go too quickly in their rehab process and make sure they tick all the boxes." 

Parramatta will host the Dolphins at CommBank Stadium on Thursday night.