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Who will be the NSW halves pairing in five years’ time?
Nicholas Quinlan • June 14th, 2025 11:39 am
When it comes to picking Origin sides, it always seems the halves combination comes under the most scrutiny and coverage.
Whether it be Queensland deciding to axe their captain and number seven in Daly Cherry-Evans for Game II in favour of Tom Dearden or the ongoing debate last year on who should fill the number seven jersey for New South Wales when Nathan Cleary was injured, the decision provides constant debate among fans and pundits.
NSW at the moment has been blessed with quality players in the halves with Cleary, Mitchell Moses and Jarome Luai having all proven themselves at the Origin level.
And with rising stars like Luke Metcalf, Isaiya Katoa, Lachlan Galvin, Fletcher Sharpe and Ethan Strange coming through the ranks, NSW will have plenty of selection headaches to come in the five-eighth and halfback positions.
These were the five names put out to the SEN1170's Morning Glory with Matty Johns team with a question: Who will be the six and seven pairing going into Origin Game I in five years’ time?
Both Denan Kemp and Matty Johns would agree that the Dolphins young gun Isaiya Katoa will be in the side as the number six.
However, there would be a difference of opinion on the halfback choice with Johns choosing a player that was not put forth.
Kemp: Katoa and Galvin
Johns: Katoa and Cleary
“I reckon Nathan Cleary will play into his late 30s,” Johns added.
After Johns’ answer, Kemp would go on to clarify his answer to swap Galvin out for the Penrith captain if he is still playing.
“If Cleary is still available, then it's Cleary (and) Katoa or vice versa,” Kemp said.
Johns would be asked who he would replace Cleary with if he is not playing in five years’ time with Johns finding it tough to pick an alternative.
“I’ll tell you what, I would go Katoa and gee it’s hard between Strange, (and) Metcalf,” he pondered.
“It could be Strange.”
Whilst Johns didn’t pick Galvin, he suspects his future at an Origin level may lie in a different position.
“Go forward five years,” Johns stated.
“(In) five years, in my opinion, Galvin will be a back rower.
“He’ll pop. He reminds me so much of Wade Graham when Wade was a young player coming through.
“I reckon in five years; he will be in the back row.”
