Wayne Bennett picks who NSW should choose at halfback for Origin game two to replace Nathan Cleary

Rugby league supercoach Wayne Bennett has outlined who he thinks NSW should pick at halfback ahead of Origin two on June 21 – but cast doubt on whether under pressure Blues selectors will make the right call.

Bennett, 73, was speaking at North Sydney Oval on Thursday and told a scrum of journalists Brad Fittler must opt for Cody Walker and Adam Reynolds in the halves ahead of the must win encounter at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

He was speaking at the home of the Bears preparing his Dolphins for Friday’s away clash with the Sea Eagles at nearby 4Pines Park at Brookvale. 

‘NSW are in a very tough place right now,’ Bennett said. ‘They have to make the right decisions. It’s as simple as that.

‘They’re going to Brisbane, and everybody knows how intimidating Queensland is in Brisbane.

Rugby league supercoach Wayne Bennett has a firm opinion on who NSW should pick at halfback ahead of Origin two on June 21 

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Bennett believes the Blues selectors would be mad not to pick Adam Reynolds (pictured) and Cody Walker in the halves for the must-win encounter

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‘I think they need to make a few tough team selections that I don’t think they’ve been prepared to make in the past. They thought they could get away with some stuff, but they won’t get away with it in Brisbane if they don’t make the right team selections.

‘I’d certainly take him [Reynolds]. He’s the best game manager in rugby league at the moment in my mind. 

‘He brings his kicking game and everything you want – he’s calm and someone who won’t be intimidated.’

Bennett then added Walker is also a must, because when paired in the halves, the former Rabbitohs teammates ‘have that combination and they’ll worry the hell out of everybody’.

Bennett also knows first hand how much a selection gamble can pay off in the Origin arena.

He famously picked Allan Langer in the 2001 series for the Maroons – and the 35-year-old, playing for Warrington at the time in the English Super League, delivered a man of the match performance to clinch the series.