'Couldn't win without him': Bennett likens Reynolds selection to Langer recall

Wayne Bennett has warned NSW that Suncorp Stadium is no place for a rookie Origin halfback and compared recalling Adam Reynolds to his decision to bring Allan Langer back from England.

Bennett, who coached Reynolds at South Sydney, guided the Maroons to Origin series wins in 1988, 1989, 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2020 but he was willing to offer NSW mentor Brad Fittler advice about his halfback dilemma.

With Nathan Cleary ruled out by a hamstring injury, Bennett told media at the Dolphins captain’s run at North Sydney Oval ahead of Friday night’s clash with Manly that the Blues must reunite Reynolds and Cody Walker in the halves.

“NSW are in a very tough place right now,” Bennett said. “They have to make the right decisions, it’s as simple as that.

“They’re going to Brisbane, and everybody knows how intimidating Queensland is in Brisbane.

“I think they need to make a few tough team selections that I don’t think they’ve been prepared to make in the past.

“They thought they could get away with some stuff, but they won’t get away with it in Brisbane if they don’t make the right team selections.”

Nicho Hynes was on the bench for the Blues in the 24-18 loss at Adelaide Oval and many believed the 2022 Dally M Medallist deserved to start in the halves alongside Cleary but Fittler opted for his Panthers club-mate Jarome Luai.

Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses is the other main contender after being called in the last time Cleary was unavailable in 2021 but Bennett said neither he or Hynes had the Origin experience required with so much at stake.

After losing Origin II in 2001, Bennett sprung a selection surprise by recalling Langer from Warrington for the series decider because he wanted a proven performer at halfback and he said Fittler needed to do something similar now.

“You can talk about the other halfbacks, but both of those boys haven’t played in Brisbane in State of Origin,” he said.

“It's not a place to go without your best players that can handle that as well, you've got to be able to handle the night, the moment, otherwise it's all over for them.

“They've got to win this game, there's no ifs or buts, there's no fall back position, there's no excuses.

"With Cleary's injury it's opened up another opportunity for a player, probably what they didn't want but it's happened, now they've got to make the best choice.

“I’d go with the players I’d trust more to do it, and I’d trust Adam Reynolds above everyone else that’s available to them. He lives up there now, knows the place really well.

“He’s the best game manager in rugby league at the moment, in my mind. He brings his kicking game and everything you want - he’s calm and someone who won’t be intimidated by the position.

“I brought Allan Langer back in 2001, it wasn’t that we didn’t have other halfbacks, but I knew we couldn’t win that third game without him.”

If Fittler does take his advice and picks Reynolds, Bennett said Walker needs to be five-eighth and Latrell Mitchell at left centre, despite the Rabbitohs superstar not having played since May 19.

“If you bring in Reynolds, you really need to bring in Walker because they have that combination. And they’ll worry the hell out of everybody,” Bennett said.

“They need to forget about ages, the past, whatever. They need the best 17 players in Brisbane."