BRETT Kimmorley has issued a challenge to Mitchell Moses to step up this weekend and declare himself as the man to wear the No.7 for NSW this year.

Despite a winless start to the season for Parramatta, Kimmorley says a knee injury to Nathan Cleary has pushed Moses to the head of the queue for halves in line to wear the sky blue for the State of Origin series opener.

Cleary was the hot favourite to unseat Mitchell Pearce this year but an MCL injury has sidelined the Penrith star for up to 10 weeks.

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While some have backed Pearce to retain the job, others have backed Luke Keary as the man to partner James Maloney in the halves.

Kimmorley, who played 10 games for the Blues, says that despite the Eels’ poor form, he’s seen enough from Moses to suggest the position in Brad Fittler’s team is his to lose.

The 23-year-old had a breakout 2017 as part of the World All Stars, guiding the Eels to the finals and starring for Lebanon in the World Cup.

Mitchell Moses of the Eels is sin binned. Source: Getty Images

“Now Nathan Cleary’s unavailable, it poses a really hard question. Do we stick with what we know? Or do we pick someone like a Mitchell Moses? I saw enough from him last year to think he can handle rep football,” Kimmorley told foxsports.com.au.

“He was really good for Lebanon in that World Cup and really stood up for them.

“He’s a player who can handle that arena. The challenge is there. Parramatta have been really poor and that’s a reflection of the whole team, not just one individual.

“You have to sum up how the individual has gone. Blokes can go good at club football and then are like deer in the headlights at rep football.

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“Even if Parramatta aren’t winning games, if he has discipline which is a bit questionable, you’d like to see him fight tooth and nail, stay in the game plan, stay calm and composed, making tackles, playing tough. That’s what you want a losing player to look like.

“He just has to get the basics right.”

In suggesting Fittler has an eye to the future when picking his team for game one, Kimmorley expects Maloney to retain his spot as Blues five-eighth.

NSW emerging blues players gather at ANZ Stadium. Source: News Corp Australia

In form and one of the team’s best last series, Kimmorley said the Penrith No.6’s kicking game and creativity is invaluable for a team which needs to score points.

“I thought James Maloney was one of our best players in the three games last year,” Kimmorley said.

“All the points came off him in game one and all the attack in game two down the left edge was creative.

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“Being a senior player, he would be very important with a new number seven.”

The series kicks off in Melbourne on June 6 but already the makeup of the Blues team is a hot topic.

Under new leadership, Kimmorley expects the Blues to take a new approach to not only their players but their style.

Backing a more attack focused team, he’s tipping James Tedesco to get the nod at fullback, while the hooking role is one position the former Blue anticipates to see change.

James Tedesco of the Blues looks on. Source: Getty Images

While Nathan Peats produced a mammoth defensive effort last series, he faces missing selection in favour of more creative types like Peter Wallace and Cameron McInnes.

“If there’s no threat from dummy half, the markers get out a bit wider and that makes the space harder to create an overlap

“If Nathan Peats is the person they go for, he probably plays the first 25 minutes,” he said.

“Dummy half’s in good football sides ask questions … Peter Wallace has been amazing. He shows great leadership and he’s mature. He’s very stable in his position at Penrith.

“Maybe you give a Cameron McInnes or a (Apisai) Koroisau a taste off the bench? They can come into the game when the defence is a bit fatigued and ball play a bit.

“The team will look different to last year’s and have a different approach to how they play their football.”