NSW captain Paul Gallen has thrown his support behind St George Illawarra fullback Josh Dugan to fill the No.1 jersey made vacant by Jarryd Hayne's move to the NFL in this year's State of Origin series.
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Despite last year ending Queensland's eight-year domination of Origin, Gallen said the players involved in that history-making series should not be automatically guaranteed their spots and admitted it would be difficult to replace Hayne.
The Blues have no shortage of fullback options, including Penrith's Matt Moylan, Wests Tigers James Tedesco, Manly veteran Brett Stewart and Canterbury's Brett Morris but Gallen believes Dugan is the best choice.
"It is not good to lose Jarryd, he was amazing for us last year and has always performed at Origin level but if he is fit and healthy I think Josh Dugan can do the job for us," Gallen said the launch in Melbourne of the return of Origin to the MCG in Game II on June 17.
"At the moment he is out injured and everyone is talking about how good Brett Morris is going and guys like Matt Moylan as well so the future is bright there but if Duges can get back to the form we know he can play I think he probably deserves first crack at it."
Morris, who has only just made the switch to fullback since joining the Bulldogs from the Dragons, is set to be chosen on the wing, with brother Josh and Sydney Roosters pairing Michael Jennings and Daniel Tupou the favourites for the other positions in the three-quarters.
However, they face challenges from Roosters recruit Blake Ferguson and South Sydney's Dylan Walker and Alex Johnson.
Rabbitohs five-eighth Luke Keary is another player under consideration for NSW following the injury to Canterbury's Josh Reynolds. Gallen does not believe the Blues should stick with club combinations in the halves as they have done in recent seasons.
"I just want the two best players there, whoever them two players are," Gallen said. "Obviously Josh and [Bulldogs halfback] Trent Hodkinson did a great job for us last year but they have got to be performing to get their spot back.
"Have a look at the way [Roosters halfback] Mitchell Pearce finished last season and the way he has probably started this year, he has been in outstanding form so that can only be positive for the team. Blokes are going to have to push each other to get that position and if they are pushing each other then obviously they are playing well.
"Club combinations, I don't know if that fits in State of Origin. Whoever is playing the best deserves to get the position."
Gallen said he was prepared to concede the underdog tag to Queensland and both he and Maroons skipper Cameron Smith said they were hoping to play in front of a record Origin crowd at the MCG.
"The only memory I have of the MCG is watching the 1994 game on television and there were 87,000 people there so I would love to play in front of the biggest Origin crowd ever. To get 100,000 people would be outstanding and I am looking forward to it."
