Queensland planning tough examination of NSW debutant five-eighth James Maloney in State of Origin I Queensland are looking to ensure James Maloney's NSW debut is not a happy one. THE Maroons have vowed to give James Maloney the ultimate Origin examination as the Blues debutant braces for a daunting playmaking showdown with champion Queensland pivot Johnathan Thurston. Maloney and Mitchell Pearce will be key components in NSW's quest to end Queensland's seven-year reign when the Blues roll out their 15th halves pairing since 2006 in the series opener on Wednesday night. Queensland coach Mal Meninga believes Maloney has the talent to be an Origin mainstay, but that won't stop the Maroons testing whether the rookie five-eighth is NSW's weakest link at ANZ Stadium. "I think he is up to it," Meninga said when asked if Maloney is ready for Origin football. I think if you work from week to week, in the NRL, James Maloney is under pressure from most teams he plays against. He'll be under pressure from us for sure. Maloney, who turns 27 on Saturday week, is no stranger to pressure-cooker football at ANZ Stadium. In 2011, he was the senior playmaker in a Warriors team that upset the Storm to qualify for the NRL grand final against eventual premiers Manly at Homebush. This season, at his new club the Roosters, Maloney has forged a slick scrumbase union with Pearce, but the quality of their club partnership has yet to be scrutinised at Origin level. Mindful Maloney may be targeted by Queensland, NSW coach Laurie Daley has attempted to ease the pressure valve on his debutant pivot. Daley was seen talking today outside NRL headquarters with Trent Robinson, Maloney and Pearce's club coach. Johnathan Thurston will be looking to make James Maloney's Origin debut a miserable experience on Wednesday night. "One thing I have made clear is I don't want to be filling them (Maloney and Pearce) up with too much (information)," Daley said. They are coming out of a successful system and they don't need me to cloud their judgement. The reason in the end we went for James Maloney was his combination with Mitchell Pearce, it is working well with the Roosters and he brings a calming influence to Mitchell's game. In the past, he has been a bit rushed and James tends to take pressure off him. He is a good communicator, he knows his football and he's in form. At times, you just have to let them go ... let them work it out for themselves. Pearce, entering his 10th Origin game, is also under mounting pressure. A year ago, league great Bob Fulton expressed reservations as to whether Pearce was NSW's best option at halfback. In Maloney and Pearce, Daley believes he has struck the right playmaking cocktail. "Mitch is 24 and has played nine Origins now," he said. I'm looking for Mitch to play his role in the team and for the first time in a while we have variation in our kicking game. We have a fullback (Jarryd Hayne) who can kick, we have a five-eighth (Maloney) who can kick from the left side of the field and we have a hooker (Robbie Farah) who can kick, so we have all bases covered. Maroons skipper Cameron Smith believes Queensland will take a major step towards victory if they shut down the Maloney-Pearce combination. "We haven't singled any one player out but the players that have the most involvement are Farah, Pearce and Maloney," he said. They are vital to their game plan. Particularly Maloney and Pearce, they play a simple style of footy but a tough style of footy which is suited to Origin ... their kicking games are pretty accomplished.