Why Mitchell Moses has been retained at five-eighth for the series decider

Today Statement July 2, 2026 3 minutes read

Of the catalogue of selection debates to emerge during this year’s State of Origin series, who should wear the NSW No.6 jersey has been as big a discussion point as any.

So it is the case again approaching the decider with Mitchell Moses retained at five-eighth despite being out of form, having had his interstate campaign disrupted by injury and with Canberra’s Ethan Strange having made a case for inclusion with a blinder on debut in Sydney in May.

Mitchell Moses will make his eighth appearance for the Blues next week.Getty Images

A classic of the “picked on faith” genre, the 31-year-old will run out alongside Nathan Cleary at Suncorp Stadium in a halves combination with enormous scrutiny on it following an underwhelming display in the second game at the MCG.

The NSW spine were outplayed by their Queensland counterparts in a 44-24 defeat that left the series at 1-1. But while coach Laurie Daley made five changes to his team for Brisbane, those key positions remained untouched.

“Not that exact moment, but to get up there and clinch the series … it was a great feeling then and hopefully we can do it again.”

Moses was the NSW halfback for games two and three as the Blues stormed back to claim the series under Michael Maguire in 2024.

Mitchell Moses and the Blues celebrate that series-clinching try at Suncorp in 2024.NRL Photos

It was only the third time NSW have won a series decider in Brisbane in the history of State of Origin.

Daley, who was captain on the first occasion in 1994, is placing his trust in Moses to help deliver a fourth such triumph next week, saying he brought confidence to the team as well as a booming kicking game and could take the pressure off talisman Cleary.

Moses said he had not watched a replay of Origin II before re-entering the NSW camp but believes he and Cleary can bring out the best in each other despite both being so-called dominant halfbacks at club level.

“We’ll go out there and we’ll create a game plan to beat Queensland … it doesn’t matter if you’ve got [number] seven, six, one, 21 on your back – you work it out, and you get the win,” he said.

“We’ll sit down and we’ll work that out. We’ll work out how we can link up and make that work.”

Moses is unconcerned about the criticism being levelled at Daley and the Blues, hoping to have the last laugh north of the border again.

“He’s picked the team and we’re in here now,” he said. “This is the team that he thinks can go up there and do a job.”

Chris Barrett is a senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former South-East Asia correspondent for the Herald and The Age.Connect via X or email.