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Penrith playmaker Nathan Cleary is reportedly set to be shifted from halfback to five-eighth for NSW in State of Origin II with Cody Walker to be dropped.
As NSW get set to roll out their 22nd halves combination in 14 years, Wayne Bennett has reasoned with Blues coach Brad Fittler to pick and stick with Cody Walker.
Blues coach Fittler is reportedly set to drop Walker for State of Origin II with in-form Newcastle playmaker Mitchell Pearce to be recalled and Nathan Cleary to be moved to five-eighth.
South Sydney coach and former Queensland mentor Bennett said he couldn't understand the blame for the Blues' series-opening loss being laid at the feet of Walker in his representative debut.
Since Queensland's reign of dominance began in 2006, NSW have churned through 21 halves pairings.
Only Pearce and James Maloney have been given multiple series together - in 2013 and 2017.
And Bennett criticised the prospect of dropping a player, especially one who played in a key position, after one game.
"I'll be disappointed for Cody if that's the case," Bennett said.
"I've never seen the point in picking a player for one Origin game, regardless of the result, particularly the position he plays.
"Cody hasn't even played in a grand final. And I'm sure, the first half, he was just trying to come to grips with the speed of the game.
"When he came back on (after being substituted in the second half), I thought he was wonderful, he set up a try and nearly set up the second try and nearly scored another on fulltime.
"It just takes time sometimes. You've got to persevere with what you believe in."
Walker will captain South Sydney on Saturday when they meet Cleary's Panthers at ANZ Stadium in what will be his final chance to sway selectors.
Former NSW players including Michael Ennis have already criticised a prospective Pearce-Cleary halves combination because they are both halfbacks and have similar playing styles.
Under the plan, Pearce - who last year lost his Origin jersey because of a torn pec - would run the show and play both sides of the field in attack.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary says his son Nathan is capable of sitting back and letting Pearce steer the side around and it's not dissimilar to how he has played alongside Maloney at club and representative level.
But pressed on Nathan's best position and looking at the future, Ivan said he was undoubtedly a No.7.
"Nathan's a halfback - he always has been," Ivan said.
"He's young. Halfbacks don't hit their straps until after they're 25. He's only 21.
"He does some things really well each week. But we all stand here and know that, in five years' time, he's going to be a lot more accomplished as well."
