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Don't pick Nathan Cleary or Mitchell Moses for State of Origin, says Johns

Adrian Proszenko

Eighth Immortal Andrew Johns has implored NSW not to pick Mitchell Moses and Nathan Cleary any time soon, believing the young guns could be forever scarred if they were to make their State of Origin debuts before their time.

Penrith halfback Cleary and Wests Tigers pivot Moses are two of the state's most promising prospects and are considered representative players of the future.

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Cleary is still in his teens but showed maturity beyond his years in a stellar rookie season at the foot of the mountains. Moses began to consistently deliver on his promise at the back end of last season and is now one of the hottest players on the open market. Some pundits believe the Blues, having lost 10 of the past 11 series, should turn to the young tyros in an attempt to reverse the slide.

However, Johns has cautioned against the move after witnessing the likes of Jarrod Mullen and Mitchell Pearce struggle after being thrown in too early.

"I think in a couple of years time – about two or three or four years' time – Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses will be pushing for a spot," Johns said. "They're way too young now.

"You do more harm than good [picking them now]. I was even thrown in too early. You'd be going really well in NRL, you think you're ready, and then you're in the Origin arena and you're like 'Oh my God! I'm not ready for this'.

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"For the development of those young guys and the development of the next generation for NSW, just let them go and continue their progress in club land."

Cleary earned a place in an Emerging Blues squad earlier this month in a pointer he is on the radar of NSW coach Laurie Daley. Moses was a surprise omission but has publicly stated his belief he is ready to make the step up to Origin.

Adam Reynolds is one of the main contenders for the No.7 jersey, but will have fewer opportunities to impress after being ruled out of the opening month of football due to appendicitis. The South Sydney playmaker was picked for the opening two Origin games last season before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the third match.

Speaking at the NSWRL launch before Reynolds' setback, Johns said the Rabbitohs half and Pearce still had something to offer at interstate level.

"Definitely," Johns said of Pearce. "He was thrown in too young and harshly judged on that. Along with Jarrod Mullen in the halfback position, if you've got any chinks in your armour, Origin finds it out. That's not a place for a young halfback."

Daley confirmed Pearce was a chance of another return to the fold if he could reproduce his late-season form of 2016 for the Roosters.

"Yeah, I think so," Daley said. "At the back end of last year he played some really good footy.

"Depending on what he does at the start of the year and how he comes out of the blocks, that will determine where he is."

The NSW halves pairing will again be one of the biggest talking points before this year's series. Other contenders include James Maloney, Chad Townsend, Josh Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson, Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer.

"We've got some good depth in the halves, which is good," Daley said.

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