James Tedesco concedes he thought his time as a State of Origin player was over after dethroning Dylan Edwards to reclaim his crown as NSW’s premier fullback.
Of all the decisions Blues coach Laurie Daley agonised over in picking his squad for the series opener on May 27, the hardest was choosing between Tedesco and incumbent No.1 Edwards.
Daley has shown no favours after losing last year's series, picking six debutants and dumping Penrith’s Edwards - famed for his relentless workrate - from his 19-man squad.
Game one will mark Tedesco’s 24th Blues appearance and his first since the opening game of the 2024 series.
"I’m proud of myself to get back to this team, this arena," said Tedesco, the reigning Dally M Medallist.
"I wasn't sure if I was ever going to get back to being in this jersey again, so to be here is pretty cool.
"I think I probably accepted last year that Dylan was probably going to be the fullback.
"I haven't been playing representative footy but personally at the Roosters I have been happy. Holding that consistency gave me a chance to be back in this team this year."
Tedesco has been electrifying to start this season scoring six tries and registering eight try-assists across 10 games for the Sydney Roosters.
Daley said a big factor in his selection was the fact Tedesco had played Test and Origin football with halfback Nathan Cleary and featured at club level with five-eighth Mitchell Moses and starting hooker Reece Robson.
"Dylan has done nothing wrong, it’s just (about) the style of footy we want to play in game one," Daley said.
"I spoke to him (Edwards) after the game last night and he was obviously disappointed, but if anything happens further down the track and we need to call on Dylan then we know we've got a really good player coming into our squad.
"Dylan and Teddy play different football, Teddy's more dynamic and Dylan gets through a mountain of work.
"We just feel like the spine with Teddy's connection he's got with Robson, Moses and Cleary on either side just gives us a few more opportunities."
Tedesco forms part of an exciting backline that will be without Latrell Mitchell due to a back injury, with Kotoni Staggs and Stephen Crichton to slot in at centre with debutant Tolu Koula and Brian To’o on the wings.
Staggs (foot) and Crichton (shoulder) have both been carrying injuries over recent weeks, while Daley laughed off the potential aerial threat the Blues had exposed themselves by picking the diminutive Koula and To’o together.
"I think Brian's the best winger in the game, so I don't think height has got anything to do with it," Daley said.
"I think that Tolu has played fullback and is good under a high ball so if they (Queensland) want to kick, they can kick, we've seen it before, so nothing will faze our guys."
There is no place for in-form Warriors forward Jackson Ford in the front row, with Addin Fonua-Blake named to start in his Origin debut at age 30.
Fonua-Blake, Penrith outside back Casey McLean (both New Zealand) and Victor Radley (England) are all named for debuts following a loosening of the Origin eligibility rules over the off-season.
Daley’s other two debutants are bench hooker Blayke Brailey (Cronulla) and five-eighth Ethan Strange (Canberra), who has also been listed on the six-man interchange.
NSW SQUAD FOR GAME ONE:
James Tedesco, Brian To'o, Stephen Crichton, Kotoni Staggs, Tolu Koula*, Mitchell Moses, Nathan Cleary, Addin Fonua-Blake, Reece Robson, Mitch Barnett, Hudson Young, Haumole Olakau'atu, Isaah Yeo (capt). Interchange: Cameron Murray, Victor Radley*, Jacob Saifiti, Blayke Brailey*, Ethan Strange*, Casey McLean*. Reserve: Dylan Lucas*.
* denotes debutants
