When was the last time a coach dragged a halfback or five-eighth in the middle of a State of Origin match? We threw this curly one at legendary rugby league statistician David Middleton and he can’t remember it happening since the first Origin in 1980. The closest he came was Tommy Raudonikis replacing Steve Mortimer during an interstate match in 1977. That’s how displeased Blues coach Brad Fittler was with Walker’s performance as the 29-year-old laboured on the left edge with Latrell Mitchell, who was also very quiet as evidenced by his clean sky-blue jumper after full-time. Those who have played Origin before can empathise with Walker. They’ve charged out of the tunnel and stared into the bright lights, soaking it all in … only to blink and realise it’s already halftime.

Origin is quicker than a knife-fight in a phone booth. Those new to it struggle to get into the game and that’s how it was for Walker: lost out there on the left edge like he was a spectator to the mayhem unfolding before him. Fittler has already indicated he will consider changing his halves for game two at Perth’s Optus Stadium on June 23. The Roosters say five-eighth Luke Keary is no chance, at all, because of his slow and steady recovery from the concussion that ruled him out of game one. The news that Souths’ Adam Reynolds has been indefinitely sidelined with a back injury should end any debate about Nathan Cleary losing his jumper. But what about former Blues punching bag Mitchell Pearce to partner him?

Fittler approached Pearce in the Knights dressing room after the side's big win over the Roosters last month – the same match in which Keary was knocked out. Pearce said he had a sore groin but the Blues privately felt there was more to it. They simply thought he didn't want to play. They understood it, too, knowing that Pearce hadn’t even been in the conversation until injuries to other players meant he had to be. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video We’re told Pearce — in arguably the form of his career — wouldn’t baulk at the chance this time, although he’d be on a hiding to nothing, thrown into a system and structure that’s been in place since game one last year, alongside a half in Cleary who he’s never played with before. Which really makes the decision for Fittler rather straight forward: bring back James Maloney.

Remember him? Last week, I spoke to Maloney for a piece on Cleary but, before we got down to business, he talked about being overlooked. “I’m sweet," he said. "I’m not shocked. It was on me and it was my footy that wasn't good enough to get picked.” It's Maloney's footy last year that should be considered good enough to pick him again. Sure, James Tedesco was superb in the series win. Tom Trbojevic, too. Latrell Mitchell, Damien Cook … But the series was decided by Maloney. He orchestrated the win in game one and his faultless goalkicking and poise was the difference in game two.

He’s cheeky and snappy and usually has a shelf-life of about three years at a club before he either pisses off the coach or his teammates or, quite often, both. But he’s a competitor and a winner. He’s an on-field general and if anyone needs one of those in a must-win match, which isn’t in Sydney, it’s NSW. What Maloney mostly brings is an unshakeable belief in himself. They could've done with that in the final 20 minutes on Wednesday night as the Maroons rolled over the top of the Blues. He’s a competitor and a winner. He’s an on-field general and if anyone needs one of those in a must-win match, it’s NSW. Think all the way back to game one last year at the MCG when Queensland winger Valentine Holmes intercepted a pass and ran the length of the field to score the opening try.

As the Blues players gathered under the posts, Maloney ripped in. “Don’t f---ing worry about it!” he barked at them. “We’re on top. There’s no point any of us worrying about it.” He certainly wasn’t — and he was the one who threw the pass. Fittler says that club form will determine who flies with him to Perth in just over a week. Pearce and the Knights will meet Walker and the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium on Friday night. Maloney and Penrith meet the Roosters at Panthers Stadium on Sunday.

NRL dismiss sex tape saga The NRL has already cleared the NSW player wrongly accused of featuring in a sex-tape video that was leaked as the Blues flew into Brisbane on Monday afternoon. Instead of waiting until after the match, integrity unit investigators decided to speak to the player the day before. Not only were they certain the player wasn’t in the video, they also ruled out any NRL player being involved. Some within the NSWRL are angry that the story was given any oxygen. Unfortunately, in the age of social media, and within a game where videoing sex acts and sending it around in group chats is regrettably part of the culture, it couldn’t be ignored and especially so when the matter was under investigation by the NRL.

Albo humble in defeat SPOTTED: Federal Opposition leader and lifelong Souths fan Anthony Albanese necking schooners at the Lord Alfred Hotel near Suncorp Stadium an hour before the match. “The better team won,” Albo remarked as he entered the NSW dressing-room after fulltime. Let’s hope his instincts as a politician kicked in and he didn’t repeat that among the dejected players. As always, the Caxton Hotel drew past legends like moths to a flame. Allan Langer, Steve Renouf, Scott Prince, Andrew Gee and Paul Green we’re seen upstairs revelling in the Maroons’ victory well after midnight.

Israel Folau has been linked to the NRL but hasn't yet made an approach. Credit:ninevms Folau back to league? News to the NRL If anti-sin crusader Israel Folau wants back into rugby league, nobody on mahogany row at the NRL seems to know about it. Reports emerged this week about the sacked Wallabies star trying to squirm back into the code he abandoned in 2010 for AFL. He's even prepared to let the NRL sign off on any of his religious social media posts before he puts them on-line. (Look, we all need an editor to save us from ourselves once and a while).