James Tedesco has been given the role of fullback for the NSW Blues ahead of the opening game of the 2026 Ampol State of Origin series at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on May 27.
The Sydney Roosters custodian was in a neck-and-neck struggle with Penrith’s Dylan Edwards for the No.1 jersey as both are enjoying stellar seasons for their clubs averaging over 220 running metres and five tackle-breaks per game.
But NSW coach Laurie Daley has leant towards Tedesco, the reigning Dally M Medalist, who will line up for his 24th Origin match.
"It's a tough call, obviously both those players deserved to be in the squad but we could only find a place for one," Daley said. "There was some discussion around whether one of them may have been on a bench but didn't think that was the right fit.
"In the end, Teddy got the job, more around how we want to play. Dylan has done nothing wrong, it's just the style of footy we want to play in Game One."
There are six debutants in the NSW side – seven if you count Newcastle’s Dylan Lucas as a non-playing reserve at No.20.
Chief among them is Cronulla prop Addin Fonua-Blake who became eligible for the Blues after changes to the Origin rules earlier this year.
Joining him in that freedom are Roosters back-rower Victor Radley, who has long been touted as an Origin-style player and joins New Zealand Test winger and Panthers flyer Casey McLean on the seven-man bench – to be trimmed to six before game day.
Fonua-Blake has been named in the front row alongside Warrior Mitch Barnett, who returns to the Blues side after missing Games Two and Three in 2025 with an ACL tear.
Alongside Tedesco and Bennett returning to the interstate arena are Newcastle forward Jacob Saifiti, and Manly back-rower Haumole Olakau’atu, who both have two Origins each.
The other debutants are Manly's Tolu Koula, who fills the vacant wing spot left by Zac Lomax, hooker Blayke Brailey (Cronulla) and halves utility Ethan Strange (Canberra).
Origin Audition: Addin Fonua-Blake
Roosters rake Reece Robson won the battle for No.9 ahead of Brailey, while Daley has reunited halves Nathan Cleary and Mitch Moses, who played Game One together last year before Moses suffered a calf injury six days before Game Two.
The captain of the 2025 series, Panthers lock Isaah Yeo, will again lead the side in jersey No.13 relegating South Sydney’s skipper Cam Murray to the bench.
Yeo praised the selflessness of Latrell Mitchell after the superstar centre made the decision to withdraw from the opening game.
Mitchell phoned Daley on Sunday to advise his unavailability for Origin and South Sydney's Round 12 match against the Cowboys on Sunday after aggravating a back injury at Magic Round.
After missing last week's loss to the Sharks, Mitchell came from the field seven minutes before full-time in South Sydney's 32-10 loss to the Dolphins and told Daley he would not be 100 per cent for Origin.
The loss of the in-form Rabbitohs centre is a blow for the Blues, but Yeo said Mitchell's decision to provide Daley with clarity about selections for Origin One showed how much the NSW team meant to him.
"It was a really selfless act," Yeo said after learning of Mitchell's unavailbility when he came from the field at full-time in Penrith's 26-6 defeat of the Dragons on Sunday night.
"I think if you asked him, there'd be no-one who'd want to play for their state more and particularly with what he's done in that arena.
"I guess that's where we're so lucky in Origin, in particular, for NSW that we have some real strike centres there that can fill a role there.
"I am disappointed for him because he has been playing outstanding and he's one of those players that gives everyone confidence on the field."
The loss of Mitchell robs the Blues of big-game experience but Yeo backed Tonga international Tolu Koula to step up on debut.
"He is incredibly fast, great balance, just a game breaker, he has X factor and is one of those players who if he actually gets in the clear and there's not many people stopping him," Yeo said.
"He has been outstanding and probably off the back of Manly's form as well since they've moved into the Kieran Foran era. As a team, they've been outstanding so I'm sure there's a few of them that probably been pushing for selection."
WESTPAC NSW BLUES SQUAD
Game One, Wednesday 27 May, Accor Stadium
1. James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)
2. Brian To'o (Penrith Panthers)
3. Stephen Crichton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
4. Kotoni Staggs (Brisbane Broncos)
5. Tolutau Koula* (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
6. Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels)
7. Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
8. Addin Fonua-Blake* (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
9. Reece Robson (Sydney Roosters)
10. Mitchell Barnett (Warriors)
11. Hudson Young (Canberra Raiders)
12 Haumole Olakau'atu (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
13. Isaah Yeo (c) (Penrith Panthers)
14. Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
15. Victor Radley* (Sydney Roosters)
16. Jacob Saifiti (Newcastle Knights)
17. Blayke Brailey* (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
18. Ethan Strange* (Canberra Raiders)
19. Casey McLean* (Penrith Panthers)
20. Dylan Lucas* (Newcastle Knights)
Coach: Laurie Daley
* Yet to play for NSW
