EXCLUSIVE: Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler weigh up looming State of Origin halves dilemma

Two of the greatest playmakers in NSW Blues history have weighed in on the looming selection dilemma facing head coach Laurie Daley.

Fresh off a comeback series win, Daley takes the reins from Michael Maguire and will have plenty of tough calls to make for the series opener.

But perhaps the most difficult will revolve around the No.6 and No.7 jumpers.

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Last year, Nathan Cleary was sidelined due to injury and Nicho Hynes earned first crack in the role, but was axed after Queensland dominated in game one.

Jarome Luai and Mitchell Moses would then step up and orchestrated wins in game two and the decider for the Blues, combining nicely as the new-look combination.

Hynes has fallen well behind the pack, but Cleary is back on deck for the Panthers and many see the four-time premiership winner as an automatic selection.

Quizzed on how Daley would fit three players into two spots, Andrew Johns gave an insight into how Moses and Cleary would combine, despite both being dominant on-ball players for their respective club teams and previously at rep level.

"I understand last year they had a meeting and Moses said he would take second-fiddle," he said on Nine's Freddy and The Eighth.

"Mitchell is a very smart player and just said he would put it beside and do what's best for the state and they will play together.

"He had an outstanding series Mitch Moses, he really elevated himself."

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Moses is yet to play this year for Parramatta and according to Johns, he would need at least two games without issue to be a viable selection option.

While the two halfbacks splitting the playmaking is an option for Daley, former coach Brad Fittler raised concerns around shafting Luai from the five-eighth position.

"Jarome has played and has been good, so you could have Nathan and Jarome hooking back up again," he said.

"The coach would be pretty excited about that and so would the players.

"You have to remember that Jarome was the five-eighth last year.

"If you're gonna bring Nathan back and he's automatic, what are you gonna get rid of the five-eighth and move the halfback to five-eighth? I don't think they will do that."

Johns admitted that would also be his first choice.

"If they are all fit, I would go Nathan and Jarome without a doubt," he said.

The other wildcard in the mix for NSW is sidelined Bulldogs star Matt Burton, who is expected to return in round seven and started the season well at club level.

Fittler believes his kicking game and bigger frame could suit State of Origin football.

"The other one is Burton," he said.

"It's very hard not to be impressed with what they are doing at Canterbury. It's based on kicking into a corner and boring the other team and Burton has been doing it brilliantly.

"He'd be the other one [in the mix], he's a bigger body." 

The series kicks off on May 28 at Suncorp Stadium.