'Sorry' Moses vows to unleash Mitchell after Blues recall

Mitchell Moses has expressed sympathy for Nicho Hynes after replacing him in the NSW team for Origin II but is now determined to make the Blues No.7 jersey his own for the remainder of the series.

Moses, who was unavailable for the series opening 38-10 loss at Accor Stadium due to a foot injury, is one of five new faces selected by NSW coach Michael Maguire for next Wednesday’s must win clash at the MCG.

It will be the Eels halfback’s fourth Origin since 2021, including two appearances last year, and he is determined to ensure the series goes to a decider in Brisbane on July 17.

“It's exciting, I probably haven’t been this excited in a long time,” Moses said.

“It's a breath of fresh air, I guess, to come into this environment and be with such class players and try to get a job done Wednesday week in Game II and keep the series alive.

“I'm coming in with full confidence and I’m ready to go, and just thankful that Madge has shown his trust in me to throw me in the No,7 jersey.”

The kicking game of Moses – regarded as one of the best in the NRL - gave him an edge over Hynes, who was forced to steer around a NSW team shellshocked by Joseph Sua’ali’i’s eighth minute send-off.

Moses said the Blues gave a good account of themselves under the circumstances, but it was a difficult ask for any halfback, let alone one whose only previous Origin experience was as a bench utility.

“It’s unlucky and I feel sorry for him, they had 12 men for the whole game, and he has pretty much been made the scapegoat,” Moses said. “I’ll reach out to him after this.

“I feel sorry for him, but I get my chance and I have just got to grab it with both hands.

“It’s not just myself that’s going to change the whole performance and get us the win, it’s going to take a team performance and I think all the boys are ready to go.”

Moses said he watched Origin I and was impressed by how the Blues kept Queensland from scoring for 43 minutes once they adjusted to having to play with 12-men.

Trailing 6-0 when Sua’ali’i was sent off for a high shot on Maroons fullback Reece Walsh, NSW conceded two quick tries but managed to hold Queensland to 20-10 until fatigue set in during the last 10 minutes.

“The boys had to play with 12 men for the whole game and they dug deep and there were parts of the game that I thought they were a massive chance,” Moses said.

“We will definitely take some positives out of that and take it into Game II but to play with 12 men, it’s always going to be tough, and I thought that for the majority of the game that they hung in there.”

With Latrell Mitchell among the other new faces in the NSW side, Moses said one of his tasks would be to get the Rabbitohs superstar the ball as often as possible.

“He is a quality player, and he has obviously been picked for a reason,” Moses said. “He has such a big influence on a team, and he has that aura about him where he loves these sort of games.

“I think it is our job as halves to dish the ball and get it to him in spots where he loves it. It’s not just 'Latrell’s in the team so we are going to win', it is going to take a team performance and everyone in the team has got to help him out as well.”