Loyalty will count for Blues as Fittler looks for regional edge

NSW coach Brad Fittler isn't worrying about State of Origin selection just yet but says last year's squad has the jump on hopefuls aiming to break into the team.

Fittler will hit the road on Friday and "listen to the people" as part of the Hogs for the Homeless tour in preparation for the 2019 Holden State of Origin series.

Despite giving the exact amount of days (114) in response to questions surrounding the countdown to Origin, Fittler insisted it was too early to talk selections but is inclined to stick with the players who led the Blues to glory last year.

NSW selectors were forced to make only one change during the 2018 series with Reagan Campbell-Gillard breaking his jaw following Origin I.

That coincided with Fittler naming a record-breaking amount of debutants.

"It was a fresh slate and we picked 11 new players but they have dibs on the positions," Fittler said.

"There's injuries and form … so many things happen in a week of rugby league. You've got to be patient and let the players stand up like they did last year. Loyalty counts - if those players are playing as well as they did last year they'll be picked.

"Obviously it just comes down to the game, one of the key things last year is you can't name it too early.

"There's going to be a lot of pressure because there's a lot of NSW players that did extremely well at the back end of last year."

After snatching the Origin shield back south of the border for just the second time in 13 years, Fittler's next mission is back-to-back series wins.

It would be the first for the Blues since the 2004-05 success.

"Only if we get ourselves in a position this year and learnt from last year," Fittler said of the side's chances.

"They made some big plays, none more than a tackle in the corner from James Tedesco. Hopefully they use that experience and learn something out of it.

"A lot of players have had that experience and gone on and not learn the lesson and never done it again. Hopefully there's a lesson there to keep improving."

Fittler will be joined on the Hogs for the Homeless 10-day tour by former Blues legends Danny Buderus, Nathan Hindmarsh, Steve Menzies, Mark O'Meley and Michael Buettner, travelling more than 3800 kilometres through 10 regional towns throughout NSW.

Blues women's back-rower Kezie Apps will also be in attendance on the weekend in Port Macquarie and Tamworth.

The tour, which generated $70,000 in fundraising last year for Youth of the Streets, is in its seventh year.

Fittler insisted regional communities played a part in selecting the Blues team last season, and will do so again in 2019.

"It's the whole thing, seven years ago I wanted to go and find out what people thought of the Origin team," Fittler said at the Hogs for Homeless launch at the NSW Centre of Excellence on Monday morning.

"Once again we're going to go out and listen to the people. They'll love them more this year because everyone loves a winner these days. I'm sure they'll enjoy seeing the trophy and I'll have to make a few more promises and live up to my word."