NSW coach Laurie Daley says Tim Grant is unlucky to lose his spot in the Blues side for the State of Origin opener, but believes his team have the mobility to counteract the Queensland forwards.

Grant produced one of the moments of the series last year by putting Petero Civoniceva on his back with his very first hit-up in game two and has been in good form for a rejuvenated Penrith.

However, Daley has opted to start Paul Gallen in the front row and use Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita off the bench for the June 5 series opener in Sydney.

“I’ve been really impressed with the way that Tim Grant has bounced back over the last couple of weeks,” Daley said on Sunday.

“His form has coincided with the fact Penrith are going strongly.

“But we wanted a bit more mobility in our team rather than size and that is what led me to make the decision to put Gal up front.

“It’s something people will disagree with, but I think over the last couple of years it has been a strength of NSW.”

Daley admitted Fifita was not in his calculations when he took the job but his performances for Cronulla made it impossible not to pick him.

“At the start of the year if you had’ve asked me he wouldn’t be on my radar,” he said.

“His performances this year have been outstanding.

“He’s big bodied, mobile and regularly carries for over 150 metres in a game and is doing a tremendous job for the Sharks.”