Former NSW Blues utility Reni Maitua says he would have picked Adam Reynolds at halfback to partner South Sydney teammate Cody Walker for the opening State of Origin clash in Brisbane.

NSW instead decided to go with incumbent Nathan Cleary in a new-look spine for the defending Origin champions.

“I wouldv’e preferred to see Adam Reynolds partner Cody Walker and Damien Cook and have that nucleus of the Souths team,” Maitua said on Fox Sports’ Bill & Boz.

“Keeping that spine would have been great.

“They’ve only got a week and a half to prepare for game one, so having those combinations at club level and taking it into Origin would be fantastic.

“They are the ultimate professionals, they’ll fall into place fairly quickly but having someone you play alongside at club certainly is a massive bonus.”