Andrew Johns believes Mitchell Moses will steer the Blues in a new direction in game two as the halfback tries to keep the series alive for NSW.
After missing Origin I due to injury, Moses was selected by coach Michael Maguire at the expense of Nicho Hynes.
Hynes failed to impress in game one with his kicking game at the centre of criticism following the match.
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The Cronulla halfback gifted Queensland a seven-tackle set with his first kick of the game when he sent a grubber dead in goal. Off the next set, the Maroons collected their first points through Ben Hunt.
Johns believes Moses’ injection will reignite the magic that the Blues need.
“The kicking game [will change everything],” he said on Wide World of Sports’ Immortal Behaviour.
“The kicking game is so important in Origin. And his kicking game is probably the best in the competition. So with his long kicking game, he can rescue NSW out of trouble.
“What he can also do is hold momentum with that long kicking game and he can hold field position. If you do those two things, it applies pressure. And under pressure, some (players) crack.
“In game one there was sort of a bit of a period where NSW really applied the pressure and they got back to 20-12, but then it was too hard with 12 men. Mitchell’s kicking game will add so much and then with the ball also.
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“I think they will load up on that left side with Latrell (Mitchell), Jarome (Luai) and Angus (Crichton).”
Moses will revive his partnership with Luai in the halves, with the pair’s performance in game three of the 2023 series giving hope to fans that the combination will be successful.
“(Moses) has got speed. Nicho is one of those steady players, he hasn’t got the out and out top line speed of Mitchell Moses,” Johns said.
“Against the Roosters, he went 60 (metres) and no one could run him down. He adds a lot there.
“But the big thing with Mitchell Moses is that he’s been there for three games. He understands the speed of the game and what needs to be done to win an Origin game as a halfback.
“I like Mitchell. I’ve worked with him at Parramatta and he loves the game. He works so hard on his game.
“The last couple of years he’s really elevated himself, especially at Origin level. He played really well last year in game three.
“He’s ready, he’s ready to go. He is an Origin player.”
The Parramatta star will make his fourth appearance in the Origin arena, the first under Maguire and skipper Trbojevic’s leadership, on Wednesday when the Blues face Queensland as they attempt to keep their series alive.