Last year, Daley didn’t make a single change from game one to game three. Fittler's is already shaping as one entirely different. It has to be: one series win in the last 12 means something has to change. He doesn’t pick his first side until late May but, as this column understands, there are only four players who should consider themselves a lock for the first game at the MCG on June 6: captain Boyd Cordner, backrower Tyson Frizell, five-eighth James Maloney and prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard. Let’s look at the many cards on Fittler’s table. FULLBACK

Incumbent James Tedesco might be struggling to find his feet at the Roosters but he was among the Blues’ best last series — yet he’s no certainty of selection. The other option, of course, is Manly’s Tom Trbojevic. Fittler might take the lead of Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga and play him in the centres as he did at times during the World Cup. Or he could play on the wing. He’s a waste if he’s just lurking around camp in a sky blue tracksuit as a shadow player as he did last year. Fittler’s concern with both of them isn’t their ability to score tries — but stopping them. WINGERS

When Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson decided the best way to prepare for last year’s decider was to drain a few schooies in the TAB area of a Lennox Heads hotel, many thought that was the end of their Origin careers. It’s not the case, although Fittler will be choosing players as much on character as ability. He hates social media and phones and footballers locking themselves away in their hotel room playing PlayStation or Xbox or Atari or whatever it is grown men do with their spare time these days. That said, Ferguson’s form for the Roosters has been irresistible. He's playing every bit like a player off the drink and coming off contract — always a welcome combination. He’s on the right wing. Who’s playing left? It can’t be Brett Morris because he’s injured. Penrith’s Josh Mansour has a fractured cheekbone. The Storms' Josh Addo-Carr is still on Fittler’s radar and despite his brain explosion against the Tigers.

Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell is a gun — and a natural fullback if he ever gets fit enough. He might be a year away from Origin but I would have him on the wing, if not centre. It must be somewhere. CENTRES On the left, Fittler could play Dugan, Mitchell, Jarrod Croker, Curtis Scott. On the right, there’s James Roberts, Dylan Walker, Jack Bird and Euan Aitken. Some can play left and right. Some prefer one side to the other. You can bet whoever the coach selects won’t be in the pub five days before kick-off trying to find the winner of the race about to jump at Muswellbrook.

Captain Boyd Cordner and James Maloney are one of only four players considered a lock for Origin I. Credit:Jonathan Carroll HALVES Maloney and Luke Keary are both running five-eighths but Maloney has shown in the absence of injured halfback Nathan Cleary at Penrith that he can lead a side around the park, even if has been against the likes of Parramatta and the Gold Coast. Keary would be a controversial selection: he was born in Ipswich and grew up supporting the Maroons but is eligible to play for NSW. But Fittler would have no hesitation choosing him. Privately, he has never understood how Kempsey-born, Macksville-raised Greg Inglis is playing for Queensland and it wouldn’t surprise if he felt the Blues deserved to get one back through Keary.

Warriors five-eighth Blake Green has been tossed up and while it’s a nice headline he's considered a slim chance. Tigers half Luke Brooks is just a little late to the party but he’d cause a few selection-room headaches if he keeps dominating as he did against Manly. Did we mention Mitchell Pearce? The feeling out of Newcastle is Pearce is more than content to keep doing what he’s doing for the Knights. HOOKER This position has been as problematic for NSW in recent years as halfback.

Nathan Peats is the incumbent but looked lost during last year’s series. The appetite for his replacement shifts from match to match, from Manly’s Api Koroisau to Souths’ Damien Cook, who has the speed of a winger. He could be a better option off the bench. The No.9 that is impressing is the Dragons’ Cameron McInnes. Fittler is doing a lot of talking behind the scenes and one man he’s been chatting with is James Graham, who joined the Dragons this season and has been enormously impressed with McInnes’ attitude and distinct lack of selfishness. Your time to shine, Reagan Campbell-Gillard. Credit:NRL imagery

PROPS If Reagan Campbell-Gillard is one bookend, who’s coming with him? Only in recent weeks have Aaron Woods and David Klemmer started to look like representative forwards, although that can be said of a few Australian players who have taken a while to get going this season. Even with the injury to the Cowboys’ Jordan McLean, there are other options: Paul Vaughan from the Dragons, who is big and quick; Ryan James can play in the middle and on an edge; Trent Merrin has been the forgotten man when it comes to Origin but his form for Penrith has been outstanding and he's a big man who can play big minutes. BACK ROW