WHEN Andrew Johns said Adam Reynolds wasn't ready for State of Origin this week, he also created a whole new debate when he started talking about five-eighth options for NSW.

In many ways, the argument Johns and NSW coach Laurie Daley have put up against young Reynolds today brings back memories of the failed Jarrod Mullen experiment of 2007.

That year the Newcastle prodigy was thrown in before his time. You could argue his reputation never recovered.

Mullen was just 20 when he made his debut for NSW at halfback after just nine NRL games.

At the time he was being hailed as NSW's next "Origin legend".

He lasted one game - and hasn't played for NSW since.

As Mullen's Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett said yesterday: "Another one NSW destroyed. It was ridiculous what they did to him."

City-Country: Reynolds' best won't get him into Origin

Now Johns reckons Mullen, the player once touted the "next Joey", should be right back in the mix. And six years on Mullen is indeed back in the frame, again highlighting how this annual debate travels in circles.

But it also helps explain why the advice coming from Johns and Daley needs to be taken on board.

As former champion halfback Greg Alexander said about gambling on Reynolds at this stage of his career: "It could cruel him. Look what happened to Jarrod Mullen.

"I don't think anyone is trying to discredit Adam. We all know he is a great young player but he is a young player. I would like to see parts of his game on display over the next six or seven weeks that we haven't seen that I think you need if you are going into Origin footy.

"He fits into the structure at South Sydney beautifully. He has a great kicking game and he is a very composed young player. But again, he is a young player."

League Central ran an online poll yesterday asking fans to vote who should be the NSW halfback this year - Mitchell Pearce or Adam Reynolds. Reynolds won in a landslide, collecting 76 per cent of the almost 5000 votes.

But this is not a popularity contest - it's about picking the best halves combination to help end Queensland's seven-year reign.

Tell us: Who should NSW pick in the halves for SOO? Comments below

The fact is that the one game Mullen played for NSW was not nearly as bad as many choose to remember and if they had stuck with him, who knows how good he might be today.

But do we go back to the future now? Alexander is not so sure.

"(Newcastle) have won three games and if he hasn't been the best player he has been close to it," Alexander said.

"But I would like to see him do what he is doing now and even go up a level.

"He has floated in and out of form for six years now. He would need to find a vein of form we haven't seen from him for me to put him in the main game now."

Daley has said that if Pearce stays fit he will be halfback.

But the Blues coach hasn't made a commitment on the No.6.

Pearce and Adam Reynolds will both be in the City squad for the game in Coffs Harbour on April 21, while Josh Reynolds will more than likely get the nod at five-eighth and John Sutton will also be in the squad.

Like Pearce, Todd Carney is the early favourite to retain his NSW No.6 jumper but the ankle injury Carney suffered last weekend could be a blessing in disguise for selectors.

If he doesn't play in Coffs Harbour it gives Country a chance to trial Mullen and James Maloney.

There are still two months to go before Origin I and anything can happen in that time, but this is the thinking as it stands.

The major criticism of the NSW halves last year related to their poor kicking games and inability to build pressure on Queensland, despite the fact the Blues forwards more than held their own.

This is why supporters of Adam Reynolds point to his exceptional short kicking game, and why both Johns and Bennett agree Mullen's name should also be right in the frame. Carney also has a terrific kicking game but it didn't aim up in last year's series.

Statistics supplied by Fox Sports Stats show this year Adam Reynolds leads the way in forced dropouts in the NRL with six, followed by Carney and Mullen with five apiece.

Mullen almost doubles his rivals in average kicking metres, while Carney and Mullen both boast two 40/20s.

In Maloney's favour is that he partners Pearce in the halves at the Roosters and they are working up a pretty good combination, while Sutton's strength is his size.

And while Josh Reynolds might not match his rivals on the stats sheet, he more than makes up for his deficiencies with his take-no-prisoners attitude that many believe would thrive in Origin.

Alexander feels it is time for change but he would go with Josh Reynolds at No.6.

"In terms of five-eighth, I don't know if I could go Todd Carney again," he said.

"He looked so out of place last year. He looked nervous.

"Ricky admitted he looked nervous. He just didn't find his feet.

"We didn't see him do much with the ball, his kicking was off. I don't think I could go with Todd Carney again. I think Josh Reynolds has his nose in front and Maloney is coming.

"Both Reynolds and Maloney are tough. They are both great competitors, good defenders.

"And the thing I like about Reynolds is what he did in the first three rounds without those three key forwards (Pritchard, Graham and Kasiano) and Ben Barba.

"I thought he really stood up for the Dogs with the ball. He was creating chances and scoring tries. I just like that maturity in his game."

But, again, Alexander said a lot can change in two months before the series opener on June 5.

Just like a lot has changed in the past six years.

And back to Mullen; he only turns 26 next Tuesday.

It's the age where playmakers traditionally come of age.

Which is what Bennett believes Mullen has done this year.

"He played well for us last year but I'm telling you he is playing better this year," Bennett said.

"In the kind of form he is in now he is probably the most talented of all the options NSW have.

"What I would say is watch how the next couple of months unfold.

"But if he is still in the form he is in now then he has to be right up there."