NSW captain Paul Gallen says Daniel Anderson and Graham Murray aren't right for the Blues coaching role because they've never experienced State of Origin as players.
Gallen said the job should be narrowed down to two contenders – Brad Fittler or Laurie Daley – given both are Blues playing greats.
"It's got to be Freddy or Laurie. It can't come outside of those two," Gallen told BigPond Sports Weekend.
"It can't be a Daniel Anderson or a Graham Murray. They haven't played Origin. They don't get Origin. Origin's a different arena."
The 31-year-old Blues veteran gave an insight into the unique nature of the Origin setup when explaining his reasons for backing Fittler or Daley.
"It's not about skill, it's not about big plays, it's about players getting into camp, enjoying the eight or nine days in camp, just having fun," Gallen said.
"When you get on the training paddock just do the hard work, train intense and then go off and enjoy. It's all about enjoyment.
"When you get out on the field it's about blokes just turning up for each other non-stop.
"I think Laurie Daley and Brad Fittler get that. They've been there before. They know what it's all about, whereas these other blokes haven't."
Gallen revealed Craig Bellamy, the Melbourne Storm's successful mentor who is widely regarded as one of the competition's best coaches, told him he didn't understand the inner workings of State of Origin during his stint as coach between 2008 and 2010.
"(Bellamy) spoke to me about it and he goes 'Gal, I did not get Origin when I was coaching it, but I do now,'" Gallen said.
"A fresh coach coming in who'd never had any Origin experience, it'll take them another year or two to get Origin. We don't have the time."
Meanwhile, the Cronulla skipper took aim at South Sydney for kicking an early field goal when scores were locked at 6-all in last night's clash at Toyota Stadium.
The one-pointer put the Rabbitohs 7-6 in front, but the Sharks came back and won the match 20-7 to virtually assure themselves of a finals berth.
"I thought they took a real negative approach. There was 14 and a half minutes to go and they took a shot at field goal. I just thought there's so much footy left in five minutes let alone 14 or 15. I just thought it was a negative play," Gallen said.