Boyd Cordner has thrown his support behind Sydney Roosters teammate Mitchell Pearce to put on the NSW sky blue jumper if he decides he's mentally fit for State of Origin.
Pearce is one of five of playmakers being considered by Blues coach Laurie Daley for next month's Origin opener at ANZ Stadium.
Daley insists he has not decided on his 17 for the June 1 encounter against Queensland and is waiting to see how Pearce pulls through Sunday's NRL clash with Canterbury.
After serving a club suspension for his Australia Day meltdown, Pearce returned to football late last month.
With Pearce with just two games under his belt, and still recovering mentally, Daley is taking a cautious approach to pencilling in his name, despite his being the incumbent NSW No.6.
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Roosters and Blues back-rower Cordner said Pearce deserved credit for the way he had dealt with the pressure and limelight since his return.
Asked if he would like to run out alongside him for Origin I, Cordner said: "For sure, as a mate, I'm not going to lie, but that's probably the furthest thing from his mind at the moment."
"He's just had his first game back the other week and he's making all the headlines again," Cordner said.
"I suppose you can't escape that sort of thing, but he's handled it pretty well and I'm sure his full focus is on turning our season around as well."
