Mitchell Moses admits the “challenge” of playing alongside Nathan Cleary in the halves is something that “excites” him ahead of this year’s State of Origin series.

The 30-year-old had never been selected for an Origin opener until receiving the phone call from NSW coach Laurie Daley on Sunday night.

It continues a crazy 12 months for Moses, who was overlooked in game one before coming into the halfback role and steering the Blues to the 2-1 series victory.

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Moses would then be ruled out for months with a torn biceps, return with the Kangaroos in the year-end internationals and miss the opening six weeks of the 2025 season with the Parramatta Eels due to an ongoing foot injury.

The playmaker will wear the No.6 for the first game against Queensland and while last year’s success won’t define his Origin career, Moses is brimming with confidence.

“I haven’t played in a game one before, so I’m excited for that and go up there and hopefully do a job on them,” he told media on Monday.

“It’s a good moment [2024 series win] – I don’t think it’s a defining moment.

“It was a good moment to have and to win the series up there, but that series is gone and done and moving on from there and we’ll look to do a job this year.

“It gives you a bit of confidence I guess, but it’s a new series and new team.”

Watch the 2025 State of Origin series exclusively live and free on Nine and 9Now.

Moses struck a lethal combination with Jarome Luai last year, but with the return of the game’s best player in Cleary, someone was going to have to miss out.

There are still question marks over how Cleary and Moses will combine once the whistle blows, given they are both extremely ball-dominant halfbacks in club land.

But according to Moses, he’s more than happy to take the back seat and let Cleary control things for the Blues.

“He’s the seven, so yeah pretty much I reckon,” the Eels star said.

“I actually have [done it] at the Tigers, I was playing five-eighth in the early days, but I haven’t played that for a while and that excites me, to play with a dominant halfback and I can just pick my opportunities.

“Any time you can play with a player of his calibre, it’s massive and I’m really excited about that. I’m excited to even learn off a player like Nathan.

“He’s a quality player and I’m excited for the challenge. He competes on every play, he’s the ultimate competitor and he’s shown that pretty much his whole career. It’s exciting to play with a player like that, who doesn’t leave anything to chance out on the field.”

Moses also told 9News Sydney that he didn’t know his new halves partner “too well” but is looking forward to spending time with Cleary over the next week.

As for giving up his share of the footy in attack, Moses pointed out how things operate between himself and Dylan Brown as to why it shouldn’t be a problem.

“It depends how you want to see how we play,” he said.

“At club level, me and Dyl touch the ball pretty similar. We have a similar amount of possessions, I just kick the ball a bit more and that’s probably the only difference.

“Playing on different sides of the field is the only difference [for NSW].” 

Moses will be one of two Parramatta players in the side, with winger Zac Lomax keeping his spot after a successful return from injury in round 11.

The five-eighth is also looking forward to playing behind a star-studded forward pack that features the likes of Payne Haas, Spencer Leniu and Isaah Yeo.

“They are quality front-rowers, some of the best in the comp,” Moses said.

“To play behind them will be massive. Everyone’s gotta do their job and do their role for them to play good footy as well.”

NSW will enter the proverbial lion’s den at Suncorp Stadium on May 28.