Wests Tigers fullback James Tedesco says while he was originally devastated to receive the news an injury would end his hopes of pushing for an Origin debut in last week's series opener, he has now moved on and isn't expecting to factor this year unless injury strikes.
Tedesco appeared locked in a two-horse race with Panthers captain Matt Moylan to replace Josh Dugan in Laurie Daley's team for Origin I last Wednesday with Daley having indicated all year he would look to go with a ball-playing fullback this year in the quest for more points.
Having started the year in blistering form, Tedesco looked to be winning the battle until a fractured scapula suffered against the Rabbitohs in Round 9.
The 23-year-old didn't miss a beat in his return against the Roosters on Sunday, scoring a wonderful solo try and helping create two others.
"It was definitely good to get back and I was happy with my game," Tedesco told NRL.com.
"I felt good. I've been out for about four weeks now. I was definitely missing it and the boys had a few good wins so I felt pretty comfortable out there and slotted back in no worries."
He said the injury news a month ago had been a huge blow given his clear Origin ambitions.
"I was pretty devastated at the start hearing it was going to be four to six weeks but I've been pretty positive since then," he said.
"I know if I'm patient my time will come. I've just got to continue to keep my form up then hopefully a rep jumper will come my way but I'm just focused on playing good footy and seeing what happens."
He said he hasn't heard from or spoken to Blues coach Laurie Daley since the injury happened but isn't expecting Daley to make too many changes after the narrow loss in Game One.
"It's hard; I don't think he's going to make too many changes and if there's not many injuries it's going to be probably not ideal to make too many changes," he said.
"As I said I'm not really putting too much focus on it. If an opportunity does come my way and I can play some good footy then you never know but I'm not really focused on it."
Tedesco was pleased to have made it through the game just a month after a broken shoulder blade which he said had been on his mind before making his return.
"It was a fractured scapula so it was an awkward position but I had it strapped. Obviously I was a bit wary going into the game, I didn't want to get too many knocks on it but I was palming and breaking tackles OK so I was happy with that," he said.
"It probably wasn't ideal conditions to come back to [with the heavy rain and storms] but we were in the game for most of the game, it was just that last 20, too many errors in those conditions giving the Roosters too much ball.
"They're a big strong pack and I think the conditions probably suited them a lot more than us. We like to move the ball and it was hard in that weather but we'll take some positives out of it."
Video first featured at weststigers.com.au
