JAMES Maloney is the form playmaker of the NRL right now — but elements of his defensive game mean the Panthers five-eighth is by no means a lock for the NSW Blues.

With a completely new-look Blues coaching staff comes completely different thinking.

And when it comes to different thinking, the great Freddy Fittler has always seen things the other kids don’t see.

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Maloney has missed 62 tackles in the opening ten rounds of the competition, the most of any player in the NRL.

He’s also made 17 errors.

James Maloney celebrates after he set up a try. Source: News Corp Australia

So as good as Maloney has been leading the Panthers to outright second position on the NRL ladder, the Blues’ new brains trust still believe there are areas of his game to fine tune.

Blues coach Fittler has been speaking to Maloney on a regular basis with a view to honing those areas.

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With two more games until the Blues side is announced at the True Blues Ball at The Star on Monday May 28, the Blues halves are still a work-in-progress.

Talk to some figures in the game and they’ll tell you Freddy wants to roll with Mitchell Moses at halfback and Luke Keary at five-eighth.

“It definitely helps Mitchell Moses,” Fittler told Channel Nine’s Danny Weidler of their time together at Lebanon.

Mitchell Moses of Lebanon makes a break. Source: AAP

“We’ve worked together and I thought it worked well and I know what he can do.

“Regardless of what has happened at Parramatta at the moment there is a level of confidence I have with Mitch.

“He’s got that on his side and so have I.

“We’ve worked together and I know him so you should never take that for granted as a coach.

“He’s a good player and I’m confident that what he did for Lebanon that he can muster up something similar.”

Tigers halfback Luke Brooks has also forced his way into the conversation with some career-best form.

James Maloney makes a break to set up a try. Source: News Corp Australia

Which brings us to Thursday night football, when the Panthers host the Wests Tigers at Panthers Stadium.

Nathan Cleary, the young gun who was pencilled in Blue at the start of the season, returns from a grade three MCL tear.

If Maloney and Cleary gel and the Panthers win do the Blues have a new halves pairing?

The Panthers then play the Dragons in round 12.

If Maloney fires over the next fortnight and Penrith keep winning, can he force Freddy’s hand?