NSW has no hope of saving the State of Origin series if they take the same squad to Suncorp Stadium for the return bout, says Queensland great Wendell Sailor.

The battered Blues players are pleading for a shot at redemption, but Sailor believes a raft of alterations are required, including switching Jarryd Hayne to fullback and Jamie Lyon to centre.

With the Blues on the brink of an embarrassing fifth straight series loss after surrendering meekly in Wednesday night's 28-24 opening game defeat, Sailor said NSW had to take the axe to a side which failed to seriously challenge the Maroons at ANZ Stadium.

"They've got to make changes otherwise it's going to be 2-0," said Sailor, who tormented the Blues in 14 appearances for the Maroons from 1996-2001.

"They need to get the selections right ... why would you pick four centres and bring (Jamal) Idris into the game when you've got to then make three of four changes?

"You pick players in their position ... Jamie Lyon's playing great in the centres and you put him at five-eighth - NSW are their own worst enemies sometimes.

"They've got to make changes, and they've got to make the right changes.

"Whether it's to bring (Paul) Gallen in, whether to bring Greg Bird in - they're missing something there."

Sailor's advice may strike a raw nerve with NSW hierarchy, though it seems even Queenslanders are keen to see the Blues put up a stronger challenge in a contest starting to lose some lustre.

Even the prospect of a fierce physical onslaught seems to have evaporated, with NSW - having talked the talk about aggressive intent in the lead-up to Origin I - walking the walk for about 20 minutes before bowing to Queensland's superior skill and temperament.

Had Blues selectors known the contest was going to turn into a slogfest after torrential rain, there's little doubt they would have given the inclusion of hard men like Gallen, Bird and North Queensland's Luke O'Donnell more thought.

Halfback Mitchell Pearce will have his chance over the next fortnight to supplant Brett Kimmorley in the No.7 jumper, while strong performances could also earn Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah an Origin recall to add some spark to an unimaginative NSW attack.

NSW coach Craig Bellamy had described the game one team as the best squad picked in his three years in the role, though it seems inevitable that Jarryd Hayne will go to fullback for game two with captain Kurt Gidley moving to the halves after that combination yielded two tries late in the game.

"He obviously is more comfortable at fullback so pick him there," Sailor said of Hayne.

"He's the best player for NSW and the more he touches the ball the better he's going to be."

Hayne to fullback would likely see Jamie Lyon shuffle out to his favoured centre position, with either Timana Tahu or Matt Cooper - who came off for Idris at halftime due to a hip injury - to make way.

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