New South Wales State of Origin coach Laurie Daley says performances on field will be a major factor in his selections for the 2017 series.

With former skipper Paul Gallen retired from the representative  arena, the hunt is on for a replacement prop for the Blues team.

Daley (pictured) says one of the players under consideration is St George Illawarra forward Paul Vaughan, whose performances in 2017 for the Dragons have him firmly in contention for Origin selection.