Luke Keary’s strong start to the season has him well placed for State of Origin selection in the eyes of NSW coach Brad Fittler.
The Roosters' five-eighth has blossomed into one of the league’s best playmakers and is putting pressure on the likes of Nathan Cleary and James Maloney for a spot in the Blues' side.
“The things Luke Keary does is he can play both positions,” Fittler told the Sunday Footy Show.
“He plays five-eighth really well, he played five-eighth when Souths won the comp, he played five-eighth for a couple of years outside Mitchell (Pearce), he’s been coached by Joey (Andrew Johns), he knows exactly what to do as a five-eighth.
“But as we can see, he’s a brilliant halfback.”
Although he has been wearing the No.6 jersey in two of the opening three rounds, Keary has played more at halfback, with Latrell Mitchell playing five-eighth.
Despite this, the pressure is on the injury-riddled Maloney.
“Bring in the touch and the kicking under pressure, that is a job that has taken years and years of practice,” Fittler said.
“He can play both positions, that’s where he’s going to put pressure on all of them.”
Keary will be looking to continue his strong start to the year, which has seen him get three Dally M votes so far, when Sydney face the Broncos at home on Thursday night.
