Blues coach Michael Maguire has made the expected but still potentially dangerous gamble selecting Mitchell Moses on the back of two average performances for Parramatta.

If you were picking the NSW team on current form Jarome Luai should have been named to play halfback, not five-eighth, with either Cody Walker or Matt Burton as his halves partner.

While Moses was terrific in his return from injury in the round 13 win over the Sharks, Moses’ efforts in the losses to the Bulldogs and Roosters were extremely worrying.

In fairness to the Eels playmaker, it’s a tough ask returning after an extended layoff and expecting him to hit top gear straight away.

But don’t expect the Queenslanders will show Moses any sympathy when he runs out in Melbourne.

There is no argument Maguire had to make the tough call to replace Nicho Hynes who is clearly struggling with confidence.

But right now, Moses’ reluctance to back himself in the big moments is concerning going into an Origin where one wrong move, or more to the point a failure to seize the moment, can be the difference between winning and losing.

Putting Luai at halfback and either Walker or Burton at five-eighth may have been the safer bet.

Moses was clearly overshadowed by halves partner Dylan Brown in the tough loss to the Roosters, where Luke Keary (again named in the Blues extended squad) was also outstanding.

Meanwhile, Luai has been the most consistent of all the halfback options filling in for the injured Nathan Cleary in recent weeks.

The polarising Luai has had his knockers over the years for some very good reasons, but his form for the Panthers is phenomenal.

Even though he has played the majority of his career in the No 6 jumper, he looks an even better player in the seven jersey when he’s allowed to take complete control.

Walker was also outstanding in the Rabbitohs’ win over the Broncos, and his uncanny understanding of new left centre Latrell Mitchell could have been a massive bonus.

Don’t forget Walker was man of the match in the game three win over the Maroons last year. Some suggest he would have been selected in game one if not for a minor calf injury.

Burton has also been in terrific form for the Bulldogs and outplayed Moses last round. Burton also has a great understanding of the Panthers connection of Luai and Dylan Edwards, and that monstrous kick.

Moses was clearly overshadowed by halves partner Dylan Brown in the tough loss to the Roosters, where Luke Keary (again named in the Blues extended squad) was also outstanding.

Meanwhile, Luai has been the most consistent of all the halfback options filling in for the injured Nathan Cleary in recent weeks.

The polarising Luai has had his knockers over the years for some very good reasons, but his form for the Panthers is phenomenal.

Even though he has played the majority of his career in the No 6 jumper, he looks an even better player in the seven jersey when he’s allowed to take complete control.

Walker was also outstanding in the Rabbitohs’ win over the Broncos, and his uncanny understanding of new left centre Latrell Mitchell could have been a massive bonus.

Don’t forget Walker was man of the match in the game three win over the Maroons last year. Some suggest he would have been selected in game one if not for a minor calf injury.

Burton has also been in terrific form for the Bulldogs and outplayed Moses last round. Burton also has a great understanding of the Panthers connection of Luai and Dylan Edwards, and that monstrous kick.

No doubt at his best Moses is the most naturally talented with the best all-round kicking game.

I just worry he goes into this huge game under done, and obviously lacking some of his trademark confidence.

Of the other NSW changes, Latrell had to be named, although Bradman Best was a beast in his return from injury in the Knights’ tough loss to the Panthers.

Cameron McInnes also loses his spot to make way for Cameron Murray’s return, which was another no-brainer.

But Connor Watson as the bench utility ahead of Api Koroisau and Burton was another contentious call.

No doubt, Watson has the potential to be a Craig Wing style impact player off the bench, and he was very good in the Roosters’ win over the Eels.

But he’s also only just returned from injury.

SIN BIN FARCE NOT A GOOD LOOK

The outrageous inconsistency of what constitutes a sin bin/send off and what doesn’t is getting beyond embarrassing.

If it was happening down the local footy you’d have to cop it.

But this is a billion-dollar professional sport that is becoming increasingly reliant on money ploughed into the game from betting agencies.

No one is suggesting for a second there is anything untoward going on.

But it’s not a good look when so many crucial calls can have such a huge bearing on the outcome of games.

Watching some of the incidents over the weekend, you can understand why so many fans, players and coaches are becoming increasingly frustrated.

The send off Joseph Suaalii in State of Origin for taking out Reece Walsh was supposed to set a precedent.

Yet when the match officials had the chance to double down with two incidents over the weekend, they went to water.

Let’s start with Parramatta backrower Kelma Tuilagi who escaped with 10 minutes in the bin for an extremely dangerous lifting tackle on Lindsay Collins.

It was only good luck that Collins escaped without a serious injury after being flipped on his back.

The fact Tuilagi is now facing a four match suspension if he cops the early guilty plea for a grade three dangerous throw means we’re entitled to question why wasn’t he sent off in the first place.

In the same game Jared Waerea-Hargreaves also copped the same penalty as Tuilagi (10 in the bin) for minor contact on a slipping Shaun Lane.

How is that fair?

Then you had Jordan Riki’s brutal high shot on an unsuspecting Cameron Murray in the Rabbitohs’ win.

Even Kevvie Walters said after the game he thought Riki was lucky not to be sent off.

Yet on this occasion Latrell Mitchell copped the same on field punishment as Riki for just running into the melee.

Then you see other players not binned for being third man in during the same round of footy.

Warriors playmaker Te Maire Martin was also penalised but not binned for taking out Storm fullback Sua Faalogo, which was much more forceful contact than Waerea-Hargreaves’ shot.

Does Martin get leniency for the fact he plays in the halves and Waerea-Hargreaves is a renowned enforcer?

To make matters worse Faalogo did not leave the field for a head injury assessment, yet Murray did even though he bounced off the turf following the Riki shot.

It shouldn’t be that difficult to get some consistency across the board.