The NSW Blues gathered at The Star for a number of talks by some high profile guest speakers, before sitting down for dinner to begin plotting their defence still five months out from the series opener.

Blues coach Laurie Daley, NSWRL hierarchy and several key training staff members met with the players on Friday to begin plans for series No.2 after years of misery inflicted by Mal Meninga and his Maroons.

Longmire led the Swans to the grand final last year, only to fall at the final hurdle against Hawthorn, while Cheika led the Waratahs to their maiden title in his second year in charge.

"Both those guys have achieved great things in their respective sports," Blues hooker Robbie Farah said.

"All sports are very similar in culture and they know what to do to achieve success, because both of those guys have done that."

All of the players who helped NSW end Queensland's eight-year Origin stranglehold in 2014 were present except for two.

Jarryd Hayne's pursuit of his American dream means he is no longer in the fold, while new Warriors recruit Ryan Hoffman was unable to make it across the ditch to attend Friday night's festivities.

Cheika admitted the Waratahs kept a close eye on the Blues last year, even sitting down together as a team to watch one of the matches.

"It was a great thrill when I was asked to come be part of the day. I enjoyed last year as long as all of our team. We even watched one of the games together. It was great to see NSW win it last year.

The Blues were due to play two home matches this year, however after hosting the opening game of the series at ANZ Stadium on May 27, the series will move to Melbourne on June 17.

Queensland will host the potential decider at Suncorp Stadium on July 8, however NSW only needed two matches last year to wrap up the series.

Halves Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson will be the players most likely under pressure to retain their positions given Adam Reynolds and John Sutton led South Sydney to premiership glory, while Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney will be desperate to get back in the side after being axed last year.

However given Reynolds and Hodkinson achieved what many before them have failed to do, it's highly unlikely Daley will tinker with his play-makers, at least not for the first game of the series on home soil.

"I can't wait," Hodkinson said.

"I came off quite a successful series in '14. It's good to be back around all the boys today and starting nice and early."

Hayne's exit from the game has opened up an opportunity for Josh Dugan to wear the No.1 for NSW yet again, despite starring at centre for the Blues in 2014.

His likely shift to fullback means Michael Jennings and Josh Morris will be favourites for the centre positions, with Brett Morris almost guaranteed of playing on one wing if he is fit and firing for his new club Canterbury.

The forward pack is unlikely to change drastically, however Test debutant David Klemmer is likely to come into calculations after a strong showing for the green and gold in last year's end-of-season Four Nations tournament.