James Tedesco admits his State of Origin career is likely over after he was dumped from the NSW side for the second time in three weeks, with Blues coach Michael Maguire once again preferring Dylan Edwards at fullback. Tedesco played in the Blues’ Game 1 defeat to Queensland in Sydney after initially being overlooked for Penrith No.1 Edwards, who had to pull out of the NSW squad with 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.

Dylan Edwards to make Origin debut after Game 1 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.

“It was the disappointment of working so hard for so long and then it just disappeared,” Edwards said this week. “I didn’t really think about the future (and whether I’d be back in Blues colours). I was fortunate that my family and my fiancee were up there in the resort where we were staying. I just had a moment with them and then to myself where I let my emotions out. I don’t really get emotional like that often, but it meant a lot.”

Blues coach Maguire had no hesitation bringing Edwards back into his NSW squad for the must-win Game 2 in Melbourne and Penrith captain Isaah Yeo says the Origin arena is the type of environment where the livewire No.1 thrives. “The tougher and the harder the game gets, the better he seems to go,” Yeo said. “On the biggest stage in grand finals he is at his best and he excels and I don’t think it’ll be any different on Wednesday.”