- Tedesco to replace injured Edwards at Origin
- Dylan Edwards had sprained his left quadriceps
- Edwards recovered sore after training
James Tedesco is set to play in the State of Origin series opener just days after being dropped after scans revealed Dylan Edwards had sprained his left quadriceps.
The AAP has been told that Edwards will remain with the Blues but that Tedesco will join the team in Sydney instead of playing full-back for the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.
Edwards went for scans on Sunday morning after suffering soreness following a training session at the Blue Mountains camp in New South Wales on Saturday.
The Blues said at the time they would wait until Sunday to make a decision on Edwards’ fitness and have since decided that playing him would be too risky.
James Tedesco (pictured) to play in first State of Origin match just days after being sacked
Dylan Edwards sprained left quadriceps and will rest for the game
The New South Wales Rugby League is currently seeking an exemption from the Australian Rugby League Commission to add Tedesco outside of its initial 20-man squad.
Pending that exemption being granted, Tedesco will make a fairytale return to the Blues just days after Michael Maguire’s initial decision to sack him after 22 consecutive games as an all-state defender.
“The NSWRL would like to acknowledge the Sydney Roosters for the cooperation and understanding they have provided throughout the process,” the NSWRL said in a statement.
New captain Jake Trbojevic looks set to retain the Blues captaincy despite Tedesco’s return.
The Roosters moved Joey Manu to fullback on their team sheet for the clash against the Cowboys at Allianz Stadium, with center Michael Jennings coming in at centers after being named the 18th man the day before kick-off.
The injury is a blow to Edwards, who finally had a chance in the Origin arena after years as one of the NRL’s elite full-backs.
Tedesco will return to the Blues just days after Michael Maguire’s initial decision to sack him after 22 consecutive games as an all-state defender.
Prior to Maguire’s appointment as coach for the 2024 series, Tedesco had been a starter, captain and defender for NSW, including as Edwards helped guide Penrith to three consecutive premierships.
Maguire’s decision to release Tedesco, in good form for the Roosters this season, divided opinion when the Blues team sheet was released last Sunday.
Prior to the news of Edwards’ injury, Roosters coach Trent Robinson said on Saturday it would have been a difficult decision to choose between the two elite options.
“(But) both have been among the top three or four players in the competition to start the year,” he said.
I guess it was a difficult choice.
News Corp journalist Brent Read and former NRL star Wade Graham discussed the possibility of Edwards being replaced on radio station Triple M on Saturday.
“If Teddy has been placed on hold, that would suggest that it is quite significant and that they have genuine concerns about Dylan Edwards and his ability to play on Wednesday night,” Read said.
‘It’s devastating for Edwards. He gets drafted, he’s worked really hard and he’s been one of the best players in the competition for the last three or four years and he bounces back, even if it’s just a little hiccup and he still manages to make it to the game, it’s disrupting his preparation. … it’s just not what you want after being on top of the world,” Graham said.