'We can't go down 3-0': Teddy ready to return to best in front of Blues fans

Blues captain James Tedesco believes advice from coach Brad Fittler and other former star players can help him regain his best form and lead NSW to victory in Origin III at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night.

Tedesco will surpass assistant coach Danny Buderus for the most consecutive Blues appearances when he plays his 22nd successive Origin but for the first time in his decorated career he has been under pressure to retain the No.1 jersey.

The Kangaroos skipper admitted on the eve of Origin III that his form for Sydney Roosters and NSW had been below the standard he has set for himself, but he would be “at peace” with what he has achieved if his representative career ended.

Fittler, who played a record 31 Origins and will take charge of the Blues for the 18th time, insisted consideration had never been given to dropping Tedesco after Queensland retained the Shield with a 32-6 triumph at Suncorp Stadium on June 21.

However, the result of the series finale before a crowd of up to 80,000 NSW fans may decide the futures of both Tedesco and Fittler, with the Maroons out to complete the first Origin clean sweep since 2010.

“We know we can't go down 3-0,” Tedesco said. “It's in front of our own crowd, it's going to be packed out, we know we've had a disappointing series, but it doesn't mean it's all over.

“We've still got a lot of pride in the jersey, and we need to show that tomorrow night.”

While Fittler made seven changes to the squad that lost in Brisbane, Tedesco said he already shared a close bond with many of the NSW players, including Jake Trbojevic and the Eels trio of Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Mitchell Moses and Clint Gutherson.

“It's just been a great week all in all, and not just those guys but with the whole team,” he said.

“I was glad I got the chance to still be captain and fullback for this game, and I just want to bring my best footy and be the best player I can be.

“I feel like I've done that throughout the week, I felt really good with the combinations, and I’ve just got to go out and go after those big moments, which I've done so many times in my career.”

Physically and mentally, Tedesco insists that he feels ready to deliver his best performance of the series but the 30-year-old admitted he had sought advice from Fittler and other former greats.

Fittler said he had gone through a similar patch of below par form in Origin and had critics questioning his position in the NSW team, before making adjustments to get himself back on track.

“We’ve had some conversations and Freddy, who was one of the best players in the game, said he's been through tough years, where externally he was copping a lot and he wasn't at his best on the field.” Tedesco said.

“Other players I've talked to, and even some of the greats of our game, have gone through very similar situations - some worse than others - but I think it's just all part of the NRL and being a top player in the game for a long period of time.

“It's a challenge to stay at the top and I know I do everything right, physically and mentally, but when you aren’t winning games, that's when it gets tough so sometimes you’ve got to make a few changes - whether it's lifestyle or the way you play.”

Fittler said Tedesco deserved the opportunity to lead the Blues in the series finale but admitted the match may determine his Origin future.

The NSW coach said he had spoken to Tedesco about his own struggles in an illustrious career, in which he also captained the Roosters, Blues and Kangaroos.

"It was a real tough time and we just talked about ways to confront it," Fittler said.

"You can tweak things and change things, and before you know it you get your mojo back. He's a smart bloke. He is getting to that age whether you either go again or you get worn out by it all, and he is aware of that."

Despite the heavy defeat in Origin II, Fittler said it was the 26-18 loss in the series opener at Adelaide Oval that hurt the most as NSW led when Tom Trbojevic was forced from the field for a HIA with 12 minutes to go but couldn't hang on.

Trbojevic ruptured a pectoral muscle in the third minute of Origin II and his loss had a huge impact as hooker Damien Cook played right centre for the rest of the match.

"We weren't really happy with the way we played; we could have closed Game I out and Game II got away from us," Fittler said.

"The first game we were seven minutes away from winning, the second game just got away from us," Fittler said. "There were mishaps and challenges that we didn't handle.

"We thought we could win and we think we can win this one. But it is more than just the result, it's the way we go about it."