Mat Rogers has thrown his support behind Mitchell Moses in the race for Australia’s No.7 jersey, claiming the Parramatta Eels star should start ahead of four-time premiership winner Nathan Cleary in the upcoming Ashes series.
With Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters spoilt for choice between State of Origin pairings, the battle between Cleary, Cameron Munster, Moses and Tom Dearden is shaping up as one of the most intriguing selection calls of the tour.
But Rogers, speaking on SEN1170’s Sportsday, believes Cleary’s achievements don’t automatically make him the best fit for the role.
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‘Mitch Moses is a better player’: Rogers
“I like Mitch Moses as a halfback better than I like Nathan Cleary as a halfback,” Rogers said. “I’m a huge Nathan Cleary fan, I’m not a Nathan Cleary hater by any stretch. Cleary has won four premierships, he is a freak and a gun, but I think Mitch Moses is a better player. [Moses] has a better kicking game, a better running game, a better passing game, and I just think he is the best player running around at the moment.”
Rogers even compared Cleary’s potential selection dilemma to that of Andrew Johns in 1998, when the legendary halfback was forced to play hooker for the Kangaroos.
“I played a number of Tests with Andrew Johns where he was forced into hooker, even though he was the best halfback in the game,” Rogers said.
The dual-code international went on to say he would opt for Cameron Munster at five-eighth, Moses at halfback, and Dearden as utility cover on the bench. “This isn’t an every player gets a prize situation,” Rogers added. “You pick the best man.”