NSW coach Laurie Daley will resist any temptation to move Greg Bird into the halves in rugby league's State of Origin series decider, backing James Maloney as his starting five-eighth.
Maloney was targeted to good effect by the marauding Maroons forwards in the opening stages of game two in Brisbane, with Sam Thaiday in particular making life difficult for the Sydney Roosters playmaker.
There was some speculation that Bird could be shifted from lock to start of five eighth, with Maloney filling the bench utility role left vacant when Boyd Cordner replaced Josh Reynolds on the bench after skipper Paul Gallen was ruled out through injury.
However, Daley has hosed down the suggestion the teak-tough Bird could be used to negate the threat of Thaiday.
"I think James(Maloney) is a wonderful player," Daley said on Monday.
"He is good to have around the camp and is a guy that knows what coming.
"Every Origin game is tough and all the little blokes always get targeted and this will be no different.
"He'll knows Thaiday will be coming at him and he has to do his job.
"I am confident he will."
Seeking to become the first Blues coach to win a series since Ricky Stuart in 2005, Daley's task was made more difficult with the loss of inspirational prop Gallen, but he said he still had the forward pack to beat the Maroons.
Wests Tigers 22-year-old prop Aaron Woods has replaced Gallen in the front row and exciting back-rower Cordner is start on the bench for the first of what is expected to be many Origin appearances.
"It gives us plenty of size and mobility," Daley said.
"It's no secret that big games are won through the middle but, even though our guys are young, inexperienced and taking on a champion team, I am confident they will do a job."
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