'Too big an ask': Hynes backed for Blues as Moses all but ruled out

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has backed Nicho Hynes for a NSW halves spot as Eels playmaker Mitchell Moses was all but ruled out of the Origin opener at Accor Stadium on June 5.

Hynes is set to return in Sunday's clash with Sydney Roosters match after missing last weekend's win against Melbourne due to a calf injury but Parramatta coach Brad Arthur said Moses was unlikely to play before the Blues side was named.

As the incumbent NSW halfback, Moses is considered the first choice after Nathan Cleary was ruled out for eight weeks with a hamstring injury, but he remains sidelined with a broken foot. 

Arthur said Moses had resumed straight line running but he wasn't ready to play this weekend and was unlikely to be fit for next Saturday's match against the Rabbitohs.

“It’s a pretty elite level playing Origin football, and Mitchell’s an Origin player every day of the week,” Arthur said.

“If he’s fit, then he’d be picked in the team, but if he’s not fit, I don’t think Madge is going to risk anyone going in without playing.

By then it’ll be seven or eight weeks out, so it’s too big of an ask of him in my opinion.

Eels coach Brad Arthur

“All I know is that Mitchell is 100 per cent committed to getting back on the football field as soon as he can. We are as well, but we’re not going to risk putting him back out there until he’s right to play.”

With Moses unlikely to be available, next Saturday's match between the Sharks and Panthers could shape as a shoot-out between Hynes and Jarome Luai for a NSW jersey.

Or they could be halves partners when the Blues side is chosen the following day.

Fitzgibbon said Hynes, who made his Origin debut last year in a utility role, had trained well during the week and would play against the Roosters if he came through a final fitness test.

"There is a lot of talk about him for Origin, and it would be fantastic to see him earn a spot, but we’ll be making sure he’s fully fit before we put him out there," Fitzgibbon said.

“There’s always an element of risk in the sport that we play, but we’re confident in our medical team that if we put him out there that he’ll be right to go.

“I think he’d love another crack. We’ve had some discussions, but we’re primarily focused on playing for the Sharks and playing well.

“If he’s not doing his job at the right level for the Sharks, he won’t be playing Origin anyway.

“It’s a nice motivator to have someone searching for something and building towards representative footy, and I’m sure everyone would like to play, so I’m using that as a motivation, but his focus is definitely for the Sharks, and he’s been clear on that.”

If Hynes is a late withdrawal, Fitzgibbon said Brayden Trindall would come into the side, but either way Italian World Cup playmaker Daniel Atkinson will retain his spot after starring in Melbourne last weekend.