James Maloney is the right choice to partner Mitchell Pearce for the NSW Blues New South Wales Blues coach Laurie Daley admits he's in the final stages of finalising his side to face Queensland. James Maloney is a naturally confident footballer ready for Origin. PICKING the man who will play alongside halfback Mitchell Pearce will be Laurie Daley's most difficult and crucial selection decision as Blues coach. The mail indicates it has become a two-way battle between the incumbent Todd Carney and the competition's form No.6 James Maloney. But there are important factors to consider before making the definitive selection - most notably, the need to not only pick the player on the merits of their own form but also their ability to complement the halfback in Mitchell Pearce. With that in mind, the key to picking the right No.6 might be to focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the halfback. Pearce is a fast, strong halfback who looks terrific when he decides to run at the defence in a direct manner, which opens his options and creates a big threat. But Mitchell can be erratic. In recent years we've seen Pearce struggle in maintaining control of a contest. He wants to play fast, which is great, but at times you need to slow down the tempo and play composed. His inability to do that has lead to mistakes, inconsistency and the most crucial part of a halfback's game: identifying the right play at the right time. Mitchell Pearce has been locked in as the long-term NSW halfback. Pearce has improved this part of his game substantially in 2013. Two factors have helped - a new coach in Trent Robinson and a new halves partner in Maloney. The Pearce-Maloney combination works because the latter plays more like a halfback than a five-eighth and Pearce is a No.7 who needs someone dominant with the ability to help him maintain control of a contest. Many coaches give the halves equal roles these days, with one playing on the left side of the field and the other on the right. But the most successful halves combinations haven't operated this way. One of the halves must take the senior role and, from what I've seen from the Roosters this year, I would suggest Maloney is the man out on the field for the Roosters who is calling most of the shots with Pearce picking and choosing his moments. The other factor in Maloney's favour is that he is one of the most naturally confident footballers I've ever encountered. Legend has it that when he was a young man toiling away in the lower grades at Parramatta, he went by the nickname "Sterlo." Some people say Brett Finch gave him the moniker. Finch will tell you Maloney gave it to himself. Ask Maloney whether he thinks he could dominate an Origin series and he'd reply: "Of course I can." This is why Maloney is the front-runner for the NSW No.6 jersey. He brings out the best football in Daley's first-pick halfback. Todd Carney looked to have regained form against the Bulldogs only for his creativity to be undone by outside backs who blew simple opportunities. Carney, by contrast, has endured a difficult season. He has returned from a torn achilles, suffered a foot injury and played in a team with its mind on issues other than football. But when he's played, he's looked good. Some of his ball playing was pure class against the Bulldogs last week, only for his creativity to be undone by outside backs who blew simple opportunities. Carney creates a greater running threat than Maloney but lacks the latter's organised mind and ability to organise others. Carney needs a big game this weekend if he is to convince Daley that he deserves to retain his jersey over Maloney. The Blues have a few other five-eighth contenders putting their hand up, too. John Sutton couldn't do any more to convince Daley that he is now ready for the step up. I would give serious consideration to handing Sutton a spot on the NSW bench. The run-first-pass-second mentality he has developed under Michael Maguire is suited to Origin and Sutton's size, speed and skill could see him play halves, back-row or even centres if required. John Sutton is a hulking playmaker with a run-first-pass-second mentality suited to Origin. Meanwhile, Jarrod Mullen has been in terrific form in 2013 and is without doubt the Knights standout player. But football can be cruel. Mullen was picked for Origin way back in 2007, before he was mentally ready to cope with the pace and the pressure. He lost his spot after one match and the hurt of it all set his career back several years. He is now ready to go but, unfairly, will almost certainly be passed over based largely on that first experience. And let's not forget Josh Reynolds, one of the favourites after the early few rounds. He has fallen victim to being part of a struggling side this year. Both Reynolds and Souths halfback Adam Reynolds are certain to be picked for Origin football in the near future, but in the last seven years too many young Blues players have been used and abused in a selection climate of instability. Give them another twelve months of first-grade football and we'll all be asking "Can they dominate a State of Origin series?," rather than "Will they handle it?."