It's Time to Have the Tedesco State of Origin Conversation

Joel Johnston

Editor

Last updated: Thu 07 May 2026 12:26

Joel Johnston 07 May 2026

Share this article

Tedesco’s fullback role for NSW is under debate amid Edwards’ strong form.
Proposal to start Edwards while using Tedesco as a game-changing bench weapon.
Key call: Should NSW innovate like Queensland to keep both stars on the field?

James Tedesco playing for the Blues in 2024. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

It's Time to Have the Tedesco Conversation

Nobody wants to say it. But someone has to.

It's Time to Have the Tedesco Conversation
The Problem NSW Keep Ignoring
The Case for Putting Teddy on the Bench
The Case Against
Where This Lands
Possible 2026 State of Origin Teams

James Tedesco is one of the greatest fullbacks this game has ever produced. That is not up for debate. What is up for debate, heading into another State of Origin series, is whether New South Wales are actually getting the best out of him by treating the number one jersey as his and his alone.

The Problem NSW Keep Ignoring

Dylan Edwards has been outstanding this year. Not just good. Outstanding. He has done everything asked of him and then some, and the case for him keeping that jersey is completely legitimate.

But here is what gets me. Queensland have been doing this for years. They find two players in form and instead of leaving one at home, they find a way to get both on the field. They back their best players to coexist and let the opposition deal with it.

So why can't New South Wales do the same?

The Case for Putting Teddy on the Bench

Tedesco has not missed a beat this year for the Roosters. The argument is not that he has fallen off. The argument is that Edwards has risen to meet him at the Panthers.

Start Edwards at one, build your defensive structure around him early, then introduce a fresh Tedesco into a game that is already open. Against tired legs. Against a defensive line that has been working for half an hour. Queensland fans would be terrified of that. And they should be.

The Case Against

The honest pushback is fair. Tedesco has been a fullback his entire career and the Origin arena is not the place to experiment with positional flexibility on a player who has never needed to develop it.

There is also something to be said for not overcomplicating things. Edwards is playing the best football of his life. You back him, you make the hard call, and you trust the guy who has earned it week after week in 2026.

Where This Lands

What it comes down to is whether Slater and the selectors are willing to think outside the box the way Queensland always seem to. The talent is there to make it work. The question is whether there is the appetite to try.

Both players deserve to be in that conversation. The worst outcome is leaving one of them at home when a bit of creative thinking could have both causing damage on the biggest stage.

Possible 2026 State of Origin Teams

Blues	#	Maroons
D. Edwards	1	R. Walsh
B. To'o	2	H. Tabuai-Fidow
K. Staggs	3	R. Toia
L. Mitchell	4	G. Shibasaki
C. McLean	5	M. Taulagi
M. Moses	6	C. Munster
N. Cleary	7	T. Dearden
A. Fonua-Blake	8	L. Collins
B. Brailey	9	H. Grant
I. Yeo	10	T. Fa’asuamaleaui
H. Young	11	H. Luki
J. Preston	12	K. Finefeuiaki
C. Murray	13	P. Carrigan
R. Robson	14	K. Ponga
K. Koloamatangi	15	C. Horsburgh
T. May	16	B. Nikora
H. Olakau’atu	17	R. Cotter
J. Ford	18	K. Mann
J. Tedesco	19	S. Walker