Brad Fitter and Paul Gallen in startling Origin halves call after Nathan Cleary development

Former captain Paul Gallen and former Blues coach Brad Fittler have given their surprise selections to who should be the New South Wales halves combination after Nathan Cleary's injury ahead of State of Origin left fans stunned. Cleary's troubled hamstring prompted another setback with the NRL halfback set to miss around eight weeks after he limped off against the Bulldogs on Friday night.

Cleary will now miss State of Origin, having missed Game II and III last year, and a new No.7 will be given a chance to take the reins for the series. Mitchell Moses stepped in for Cleary last year and managed to win Game III after tough start in Game II. However, he has also missed nearly two months after fracturing his foot.

Nicho Hynes has been in sensational form for the Sharks and could be looked at as the man to wear the No.7 jersey. However, former Blues captain Gallen has claimed Jarome Luai needs to be given another chance in the five-eighth jersey to help give the halves combination some experience.

Gallen liked the idea of Moses and Hynes as the halves combination, but it appears the Eels halfback may not be ready in time to play in round 11. And Gallen has now called for Luai to be given another chance to prove his mettle in the Origin arena with the Panthers five-eighth having done it for his club on a number of occasions.

"I think Luai [should be picked]," he said on Nine's 100% Footy. "Luai is going well, he's a good player - I think Luai and Nicho in the halves would be good. Nicho plays on the right-hand side of the field … he plays all over the park when it comes to the Sharks. Luai obviously likes the left-hand side of the field.

"I think Moses would have to play good and one game, I don't know if that's enough. If he had two games under his belt, you probably wouldn't question it." NRL supremo Phil Gould agreed Luai would do a great job in the No.6 jersey, but backed Moses to return after one game and play halfback.

Gallen backtracks as Brad Fittler calls for specialised No.6

Former Blues coach Fittler was not keen on Moses and Hynes playing together as the combination, which was first floated by Gallen until he changed his mind. Fittler believes a specialised five-eighth needs to be given a chance for the series. He feels Moses and Hynes operate on the same side of the field in the club arena and he wouldn't want them to have to change their game for opening clash of Origin against the Maroons.

"I wouldn't pick them as a pairing, they both play on the same side," Fittler said to Channel Nine. "All the good five-eighths at the moment play left side - Luke Keary even though he is a right-footer, Cody Walker, Jarome Luai, Jack Wighton if you're gonna go that way. I don't know if I would go with those two halves."

Luai only recently spoke about his desire to return for one more series in the sky blue jersey to give himself another chance to prove his ability. He will have two more games to showcase his experience to Maguire before he selects the team.

Matt Burton stakes his claim for Origin return

Everyone will be waiting to see who Maguire selects for the Blues job after round 12. While Hynes and Luai have been mentioned, Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton is surely in the mix after a barnstorming game in a losing effort againt the Panthers on Friday night.

The fullback race is also alive with James Tedesco and Dylan Edwards the firm favourites to duel it out. Cleary's injury, alongside that of Cameron Murray, has many claiming Maguire might not want to make too many chances to his leadership core. This could see current captain Tedesco keep his fullback jersey to add stability back into the spine.