Partners in crime ... James Maloney set to join Mitch Pearce in the Blues halves. Source: News Limited
Sydney Roosters recruit James Maloney has emerged as the frontrunner to partner Tricolours teammate Mitchell Pearce in the NSW halves.
With Blues incumbent Todd Carney sidelined with a foot injury and Knights five-eighth Jarrod Mullen facing knee surgery, Maloney will be awarded his first representative jersey when Country Origin coach Trent Barrett names him either at halfback or five-eighth.
The Sunday Telegraph can also reveal a host of City-Country selections for next Sunday's match in Coffs Harbour will include:
Tony Williams will be dumped from the Kangaroos Test bench to the City backrow;
Melbourne's consistent back-rower Ryan Hoffman will be relegated from the Australian team to the City side, making way for Sam Thaiday in Test football;
Manly's wing sensation Jorge Taufua will win his first representative jumper for City;
Country will select emerging Origin back-rowers Boyd Cordner and Josh Jackson in Trent Barrett's starting side for the match at Coffs Harbour this Sunday;
Robbie Farah will be named City Origin captain after being dropped from the Test team in favour of Kurt Gidley;
South Sydney's rookie playmaker Adam Reynolds will be overlooked for a bench position for City.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal NSW Origin coach Laurie Daley has been working with City coach Brad Fittler and Country coach Barrett with a view to tailoring both teams towards what will best suit the Blues' Origin preparation.
The selection of Maloney at halfback for Country underlines how seriously NSW selectors are considering partnering him with Pearce should Carney be unavailable through injury or simply out of form with the Sharks.
One issue for Daley if Carney is unavailable is the Blues do not have another recognised goalkicker, with Kurt Gidley expected to be chosen in a bench role.
Roosters five-eighth Maloney is a sharp-shooter who has also established a strong combination with Pearce as the Tricolours have stamped themselves as a top-four outfit this season.
In the opening six rounds, Maloney has impressed with a personal haul of 60 points, courtesy of four tries and 22 goals, with his strong running game a standout.
City-Country selectors will effectively set-up a shoot-out for the best alternative to partner Pearce come the opening Origin game.
Country's Maloney and Mullen will go up against City's Pearce and South Sydney five-eighth John Sutton, another pivot who has started the season in powerful form.
The other alternative for NSW selectors at five-eighth is Greg Bird, who has won many of the match awards for NSW at No. 6 and will be named in the Australian starting back row for Friday's Test against the Kiwis.
Rabbitohs halfback Reynolds is tipped to miss selection on the City bench, with teammate Sutton to be rewarded and Bulldog Josh Reynolds to win the interchange spot in Brad Fittler's team.
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