Cleary, Moses provide halves answers in NSW triumph

There was little question headed into this series Cleary and Moses were the two best playmakers in NSW, both previously starring in the Blues' successes.

But history was stacked against them as a combination.

The only other time NSW used two halfbacks together in the past 30 years, Mitchell Pearce and Trent Hodkinson were beaten in 2015.

Another statistic emerged last week that no NSW halves pairing had won an Origin match after having never played together before since 2004.

But that was dispelled in the first half, Moses and Cleary proving they are different gravy.

NSW's 14-2 half-time lead marked their best ever attacking first half in an Origin series opener in Brisbane.

And it could have appeared even more dominant had Cleary not missed three shots at goal.

True to Moses's word, the Parramatta star parked his ego at the door and left Cleary to be the Blues' dominant playmaker in the No.7 jersey.

Cleary had almost double the amount of touches as Moses, did the vast majority of the last-tackle kicking and touched the ball in the lead up to all four NSW tries.

That allowed Moses to free up his running game, with Cleary also regularly getting on the front foot and the pair linking up frequently in good-ball attack.

Their approach was most evident in the Blues' first try when Moses put NSW in good attacking position when he ran onto an Angus Crichton offload.

Cleary then touched the ball twice on the next play thanks to a Payne Haas offload, helping break up the Maroons' defensive line. 

And when the ball went to Dylan Edwards, a long cut-out ball allowed Stephen Crichton to send Zac Lomax over.

NSW's next also came courtesy of Cleary and Moses linking up in attack, drawing in defenders before Moses's long ball for Latrell Mitchell helped Brian To'o score.

Cleary played his role again in the Blues' last of the first half, a double-pump pass again allowing Edwards to send Lomax over for the winger's second.

NSW had less good ball in the second half with their only points again coming off a Cleary kick after the halfback had shrugged off several defenders two plays earlier.

This was a NSW side with spark all over the field. 

Mitchell's quick hands in To'o's try provided one of the passes of the night, Stephen Crichton is the world's best centre on the other edge and Payne Haas was dynamic in the middle.

But of all outcomes for coach Laurie Daley on Wednesday night, the best may be the proof that Moses and Cleary can be the Blues' long-term halves pairing.