After being cut from the NSW team for the second time in three weeks, James Tedesco acknowledges that his future in State of Origin is probably gone. Blues coach Michael Maguire once again favors Dylan Edwards at fullback.
Tedesco was originally chosen to play in the Blues’ Game 1 loss to Queensland in Sydney, but he was replaced by Penrith No. 1 Edwards, who was forced to withdraw from the NSW team due to a quad injury.
Tedesco was rushed into the NSW squad late on and the former Blues captain had a mixed game against the Maroons – albeit with his side playing the majority of the match with a man down after Joseph Suaalii’s 8th minute send off. And despite starring for the Roosters in their round 15 victory over Parramatta in the NRL, Tedesco was again overlooked for Blues selection for Game 2 at the MCG after Edwards made a successful return from injury in Penrith’s victory over the Knights.
Speaking after his latest Origin snub this week, Tedesco said the truth is he never expected to keep his spot in the NSW side once Edwards returned to fitness. Tedesco has been a mainstay at Origin level for NSW, having played in 23 straight games for the Blues and captaining the side in two series wins but once Maguire made the decision to drop the Blues skipper and go in a different direction with Edwards, the Roosters veteran accepted his fate.
“(I) Wasn’t expecting to really be back in after Dyl (Edwards) was fit and he was going to play,” Tedesco told 9News on Wednesday. Edwards also starred for the Panthers against Newcastle on his return from the quad injury that ruled him out of Game 1 of the Origin series. And Tedesco says he’s accepted Maguire’s decision to go in a different direction with Edwards and has thrown his support behind the Blues, even though he may have played his last game for his beloved state.
Madge came in and wanted to make some changes,” Tedesco added. “I’ll support that and I think all of NSW should get behind the team and hopefully that can get a win and make it a decider in game three. All eyes will now be on Tedesco’s Origin successor Edwards and how the three-time premiership winner adapts to Origin footy after finally getting his chance to represent his state.
heartbreak
Edwards has been one of the standout fullbacks in the competition for years now and the 2022 Clive Churchill Medallist is raring to make his debut for the Blues at the MCG next Wednesday. The Penrith fullback admits he was shattered to be ruled out of Game 1, with Edwards praising his fiancee and family for their support.
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