DYLAN Walker’s selection in Laurie Daley’s NSW side on Monday shocked some and confused most.

A bloke who’s been out of form and playing out of position in a side sitting 12th on the NRL ladder has somehow squeezed his way on to the bench of the team that’s charged with knocking off the all-conquering Queensland outfit.

It’s raised the eyebrows of even the most devout Blues supporters, who have been left wondering exactly what role Walker will play off the pine.

But former Maroons playmaker Ben Ikin says it could prove a masterstroke by Daley.

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Ikin, who played 17 games for Queensland, believes Walker provides an X-factor that NSW may have been missing in recent series.

“He has got legitimate X-factor — you can’t tell me that Dylan Walker at his best hasn’t got X-factor,” Ikin told the Fox Sports Market Watch podcast.

“I saw glimpses the other night when he was pushed to the centres, and I’ve seen him when he’s thinking ‘run’ at five-eighth in games across this season that he’s still as dangerous as he’s ever been.”

Ikin expects Daley plans to use Walker in a similar role to that of Michael Morgan in the Maroons’ setup.

He says Walker will be injected off the bench late in the game to play a ball-running role in the middle of the field, in the hope he can take advantage of Queensland’s tired forwards.

“Walker’s had experience in big games, he’s won a grand final, he’s represented his country,” Ikin said.

“And second to that, he’s got better leg speed (than Jack Bird), he’s tougher to handle when he’s just thinking ‘run’.

Blues legend Brett Kenny joins Ben Ikin and Nathan Ryan on the Market Watch podcast to discuss the NSW Origin team ahead of game one.

“That’s ultimately why Trent Barrett moved him from five-eighth out to the centres; it was a positional play I questioned from the start of the season.

“Jamie Lyon should have been the No. 6 for Manly all the way through because Dylan Walker is best with room and space thinking ‘run’, not ‘pass’.

“That’s what Laurie will do here — he’ll drop him into the middle, probably look to get 20, 25 minutes out of him max, and say get on there and play like a loose forward.

“Almost like a second fullback defending in the front line, support the ball carrier, make a few darting runs out of dummy half when we need you but look for space in and around the middle third when the Queensland forwards are starting to tire.

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“The more I think about Dylan Walker in that very specific role, the more I think he could cause trouble for Queensland.”

Walker was cut by South Sydney late last year to clear up room at the club for Sam Burgess and was picked up by Manly.

New Sea Eagles coach Barrett wanted to turn Walker into a five-eighth to partner Daly Cherry-Evans, despite having played most of his career at centre.

He’s struggled with the ball-playing role and as a result, has been out of form for his club this season but will move back to the centres for the remainder of the year as of last week.

NSW debutants Tyson Frizell, Adam Reynolds, Matt Moylan, Dylan Walker and Josh Mansour. Source: News Corp Australia

Ikin, who played between centre and five-eighth as well during his career, is confident the positional switch will bring out the best in Walker.

“As a former five-eighth-centre, I cannot tell you the sense of relief you get when you move from five-eighth to centre,” Ikin said.

“All of a sudden you are no longer thinking about anyone else’s role or organising your teammates, it’s simply about running the ball, making best use of the ball when you’ve got it.

“That’s what Laurie Daley will do, take that mindset that he’s going to employ with Manly now playing in the centres and drop him into the middle.

“He won’t be saying go out there and play like a half, just get on there and support ball carriers, look for little opportunities, almost like a winger coming in sniffing out opportunities when the game’s on the line.”

The writer is on Twitter @SimonBrunsdon

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