Craig Bellamy is backing debutant James Maloney to shine in the NSW five-eighth role, although he’s still surprised Todd Carney was bumped from the job.

Maloney is set to play his first State of Origin match on Wednesday night after ousting Cronulla’s Carney from the role he held for last year’s losing series.

Preparing for his Melbourne Storm to host the Sharks on Sunday, Bellamy – the NSW coach from 2008-10 – says he thought the prodigiously talented Carney would keep the No.6 jersey.

But he felt Blues coach Daley knew how to pick a winner.

“I was a little bit surprised because I thought the experience he (Carney) got last year would have been very handy for NSW,” Bellamy said on Tuesday.

“But James Maloney, the way he plays his footy, he’s a real Origin player and there’s no better person to pick the NSW five-eighth than Laurie Daley.

“Laurie knows what it takes to be a good five-eighth at Origin level so I’m sure James will succeed and do a really good job.”

Daley was tossed into the Origin furnace in 1989 when he was just 20, although he then played in the centres.

He shifted to five-eighth with the Raiders a year later, wearing the NSW jersey for a decade.

Maloney, 26, started his NRL career at Melbourne but only made four first-grade appearances in 2009 with Cooper Cronk and Brett Finch blocking his progress and forcing a move to the Warriors.

He joined Sydney Roosters this year – his partnership with NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce being a catalyst for his NSW selection.

“He really kicked on over there with the Warriors and had a couple of tremendous seasons and it looks like he’s gone to another level with the Roosters,” Bellamy said.

“He’s obviously worked very hard, he didn’t have an easy ride and now he’s got the ultimate reward, playing for NSW.

“I’m sure he will make a good stick of it; he’s a tough, gritty player and he’s got skills and a good kicking game.”

Bellamy played with Daley at Canberra and said he had what it took to break the seven-year winning drought.

“I know behind closed doors, he’s a very competitive person and he’ll have them fired up and ready for tomorrow night,” Bellamy said.

“It looks like and sounds like NSW are ready to go so fingers crossed but I know the calibre of the Queensland side and they know how to win.

“It will be a toss of the coin.”