The Blues halves pairing of Mitchell Pearce and Trent Hodkinson weren't able to deny Queensland yet another State of Origin series win, but their influence on their respective NRL teams will be crucial in the run to, and during, the finals.

Pearce and Hodkinson were teammates and roommates during the interstate series and, after spending time together at Coffs Harbour, become good mates as well. On Friday, they will be marking up against each other as the Roosters and Bulldogs attempt to build momentum as the play-offs approach.

Neither could do anything in the Origin decider after the Maroons enjoyed a whopping 70 per cent possession advantage at Suncorp Stadium. But what has impressed Daley most is the way they have put that shattering defeat behind them and taken ownership of their teams in their premiership charges.

"Both have been playing good footy," Daley said. "They are good blokes, good guys to have in your team. They are guys people want to play with, their teammates enjoy playing with them. They try their hardest and that's important."

The decision to pair two halfbacks for the Blues was the brainchild of league Immortal Bob Fulton. Their personalities and playing styles are completely different and it was thought they would complement each other. Hodkinson the calming influence, Pearce, the ball runner with the flair to make something happen.

"They are two different style of players but off the field they got on quite well," Daley said.

"They've spent some time together, they enjoyed each other's company, which was good, but they won't be enjoying each other's company on Friday.

"I'm sure there will be some friendly banter at some stage of the game, but other than that they will be worried about doing the best for their team."

The clash represents a significant milestone for Pearce, who hopes to celebrate his 200th NRL appearance with a win. Given the speed with which he has reached the mark - he made his debut when players under the age of 18 were still allowed to play first grade - it is conceivable he will not only break Darren Lockyer's appearance record, but also become the first man to break the magical 400-game barrier.

"The Roosters are starting to build some momentum off the back of a good forward pack. Any half will tell you they can play on the front foot when they are winning the battle in the middle; it's always easy for a half to then make good decisions," Daley said.

"When they are doing that for Mitch, he's got a good running game, he's a guy that can move the team around.

"Playing 200 games is a great feat for him and I'm sure the players and the club will try to turn it into a nice occasion for him."

Hodkinson's year has also been one of ups and downs. Many were questioning his form leading into Origin, including Andrew Johns. However, the eighth Immortal was impressed with how he has bounced back and has endorsed Newcastle's decision to hand the Bulldogs playmaker his famed No.7 jersey next year.

"He's calm, composed and you know he'll do his job," Daley said. "The Bulldogs play a bit differently and he's got a role within that team he does really well.

"He's got the support of everyone in the team and he's a tough competitor. I'm sure he is looking forward to the challenge."

As expected, the statistics confirm that Pearce takes on the line more often than Hodkinson. The Roosters captain has run twice as often for twice as many metres, on average, this year. Pearce also leads the league in support runs, but there is little between the pair when it comes to defensive workrate or effectiveness.

While spending time together in camp will have given Pearce and Hodkinson a better understanding of each other's games, it's unlikely to have given either any advantage at Allianz Stadium.

"I think that's the thing with the rep games, you get to know other players and it's probably the opposite because you start to like the person, you have respect for them because they're good blokes," Pearce said.

"He's a great guy Hodko and I had a really enjoyable time with him down in camp. I have a lot of respect for him as a player, he's a really calm player and he steers their team around really well."