Jarome Luai and Mitchell Moses under pressure as Laurie Daley makes call on Latrell Mitchell

Laurie Daley has declared he'll pick the NSW State of Origin team on form rather than incumbency, potentially piling pressure on Jarome Luai and Mitchell Moses. And the new Blues coach says he'd love to have Latrell Mitchell involved.

Daley was unveiled as NSW coach on Monday, making a return to the role he held from 2013 to 2017. During his previous five-year reign he was known as loyal to several players, but that resulted in the Blues winning just one series and losing four.

Daley is known as the man who ended Queensland's eight-year streak, but he lost three series on the trot after that. The veteran coach is inheriting a team in a very different position this time around, after Michael Maguire's side won the shield in 2024.

Maguire himself put a broom through Brad Fittler's previous squad at the start of last series, making 10 changes for Origin 1 and handing out eight debuts across the three games. But according to Daley, there's no guarantees for spots heading into 2025.

"One thing you learn over time is you have to pick on form," Daley said on Monday. "They did that really well this year. While you have guys who played really well this year, you want to make sure they are playing well next year as well."

Laurie Daley's halves headache if Nathan Cleary is fit

Daley's comments would seemingly spell bad news for Luai and Moses, with Nathan Cleary set to walk back into the team if fit. Moses performed brilliantly when given the chance in 2024, but would need to be playing the house down to keep Cleary out of the team.

And Luai's $6 million move to the Wests Tigers means he too will need to be in strong form when Origin selection time rolls around. If he can't recapture the same form he had at Penrith with the Tigers, Daley might be forced to pick someone in better touch.

However the coach said he would be able to differentiate between a club's performances and individual form, while also having no issue with the fact Luai is likely to switch from halfback to five-eighth at the Tigers. "If all those players are available, I'll be extremely happy and I'll be comfortable making a tough choice," Daley said about Cleary, Moses and Luai. "But one thing you learn is you never actually get the team that you think you're going to get, because there are always injuries and suspensions."

Laurie Daley keen for Latrell Mitchell to be involved

Daley also said he would reach out to Mitchell and is confident the South Sydney star would want to be involved in the Origin set-up after starring in Game 2 in 2024. That marked Mitchell's first game for NSW in three years, however he was then injured and missed the decider.

Mitchell and Daley have a relationship dating back to when the coach handed Latrell his maiden representative jersey with the Indigenous All-Stars team in 2017. There's hope Wayne Bennett can get Mitchell firing at the Rabbitohs, which in turn would be a huge boost for Daley and NSW come Origin time.

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Daley also praised Jake Trbojevic's influence as captain this year, but said he'll wait until 2025 to make a call on who will be skipper. Trbojevic only played 85 minutes this year across the three games, and has previously conceded he could understand if he was not made captain again next year.

"Jake did a sensational job," Daley said. "He didn't get the time, but his impact was amazing. Great leader. He's an exceptional person and ... every time he has played for NSW, he has done a fantastic job."

with AAP