Origin legends want 'packaged deal' Luai axed but divided over ...

Cooper Cronk believes the Blues should replace Nathan Cleary with Adam Reynolds, while Matty Johns and Gorden Tallis says Cody Walker must come in for Jarome Luai.

They’d both still pick reigning Dally M Medal winner Nicho Hynes but Cronk would play him off the bench while Johns has him in the No. 7 jersey.

Johns, who played four games for New South Wales, said if coach Brad Fittler doesn’t pick Haynes to start in Game 2 then he never will.

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“As far as the No. 7 is concerned, Nicho Hynes deserves his chance. It doesn’t mean you pick him but he deserves his chance,” Johns said on NRL 360.

“He’s been in that system for a while, they’ve had him earmarked for a long time. If he doesn’t get picked now, he’s going to get picked (ever). I think they should go with Nicho and I want Cody walker at No. 6.

“I want Nicho on the right, he’s right-side specialist and Cody is the best left side player in the comp and I’d have Cook at No. 14.

“Just because Api can play 40 minutes doesn’t mean you allow him too because it takes the edge off him.

“The thing I like about Cody is he’s multidimensional, he can sit back and plan and play-make but the other thing he’s got is he can react and run. If his hooker scoops and goes, you just know that Cody is coming.

“Suncorp Stadium Origins are really fast and frenetic and you need instinctive players.”

But Maroons legend Cronk said he’d go with another halves pairing before injecting Hynes off the bench.

“It’s good to be a Queenslander because over this huge decision, NSW will eat their own this week over who they’re going to go to and we’ll still be underdogs come Game 2,” Cronk said.

“Before you even think about football, you’ve got to think who can handle the situation. I think temperament becomes a big player here, game two, Suncorp Stadium, a must win to keep the series alive. That’s not just going up there and playing football, that’s can you handle this moment.

“I think the two best at that are Nicho Hynes and Adam Reynolds - their temperament, their ability not to get rattled by anything.

“Nicho has got the stoic nature in the way that he plays and then you’ve got Reynolds who has basically been dominating Suncorp Stadium for the last 18 months with the Brisbane Broncos, his kicking game is elite and it’s almost the most important thing in going up to Suncorp for a big game.

“If I had to choose, I think I’m keeping Nicho on the bench and starting Reynolds and I’m bringing Nicho onto the field early in the first half.

“If you need structure, Reynolds keeps going, if you need some vibrant play to score points then Nicho comes in.”

Queensland great Gorden Tallis tipped Luai to be axed now that his Panthers teammate Cleary has been ruled out for the series.

“I don’t think Luai holds on to his jersey, I think he was a packaged deal,” Tallis said.

“The one that plays the most like Cleary is Reynolds and I think Cody Walker is the most dangerous player (in the NRL).”