City Origin coach John Cartwright has made a pitch to NSW selectors on behalf of his captain Robbie Farah, despite a 36-18 loss to a Country side including arch rival and Blues incumbent Michael Ennis.

Ennis found himself on the winning side again after a two-try effort earlier in the year as his Canterbury side defeated Farah's Wests Tigers.

"I thought he was the most creative player on the field," Cartwright said of Farah.

NSW selector and Country coach, Laurie Daley, was playing his cards close to his chest when asked about picking an Origin side.

But he said the Blues five-eighth role remained up in the air after Greg Bird and Todd Carney shared the position for Country against inexperienced City pivot Kris Keating.

Test centre Jamie Lyon is also reportedly in the mix to wear the No.6 jersey.

"I thought Birdy did some good things, I thought Toddy was good when he came on," Daley said.

"We've got a lot of depth in that position.

"(NSW coach) Craig (Bellamy) will have a big influence on which way we want to go there."

Carney, playing his first representative football in two years after being banished from the NRL in 2009, was philosophical about his chances.

"If the Blue jumper comes my way I'm happy to have it but I won't be disappointed if I don't get it because I've still got a lot to learn and a lot more years at it," Carney said.

"A lot of players staked claims tonight.

"I think the next step for all us players is we've got to go back and continue that form in club football because if you don't do that you're not going to be a chance."

Daley was also pleased with halfback and skipper Brett Kimmorley's game and with the tighter play of interchange forwards Willie Mason and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, a role they had been specifically asked to perform in the Origin trial.

"Your players off the bench, when they come on they've got to make an impact and I thought they did it terrifically well," Daley said.

Kimmorley isn't counting his chickens, or Blues jerseys, just yet.

"I think until you officially hear your name, you just keep hoping and you keep trying hard," he said.

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