Tedesco Emerges as Surprise Contender Amid NSW Injury Woes
With injuries causing chaos in the NSW State of Origin selection plans, Roosters fullback James Tedesco has been floated as a surprise option for a spot in the Blues’ backline.
Head coach Laurie Daley faces a selection headache after setbacks to Zac Lomax and Tom Trbojevic. Lomax is expected to be sidelined for around six weeks following a foot fracture sustained in Parramatta’s recent win over the Dragons—his first outing on the wing for the Eels. Daley had previously suggested Lomax would return to the wing if picked for Origin, following a strong 2024 series.
Lomax’s injury now places his Game 1 availability in serious doubt, and Daley is being presented with a growing list of alternatives for what now looks like two open spots in the Blues’ backline.
Stephen Crichton is widely seen as a lock for one of the centre roles and could even be in the frame for captaincy if Jake Trbojevic misses out. That leaves several candidates battling for the remaining backline spots. Latrell Mitchell made a huge impact in last year’s Game 2 win and remains in contention, while Bradman Best impressed with a match-winning try in Game 3.
Trbojevic, who played centre in 2022, has been plagued by injuries and couldn’t complete either of his 2023 Origin appearances. Despite solid form at centre for Australia, his injury struggles have cast doubt on his inclusion, particularly in the eyes of NSW fans.
Kiraz, Mitchell, and Best Jostle for Selection
Former players Scott Sattler and Mat Rogers have endorsed Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz as a potential debutant should Lomax not recover in time. Kiraz returned from injury last week and has been one of the NRL’s standout wingers this season. Though he missed out on the Australian squad last year due to a back issue, Kiraz is very much in the frame now.
Sattler and Rogers are both backing Crichton and Best to start in the centres, while Trbojevic is being considered for a wing role. However, with Kiraz, Mitchell, and Best all pushing hard for selection, Trbojevic’s place in the squad is now under serious threat.
Trbojevic’s Spot in the Balance
Trbojevic’s battle with injuries continues—currently sidelined for four weeks with a knee issue after a recent return from hamstring trouble. While his game-changing ability is undisputed, his recent injury record raises concerns over his reliability at Origin level. In 2023, he couldn’t finish either of his appearances, prompting an emergency reshuffle that saw Damien Cook deployed in the centres—a move that backfired.
If Daley opts to include Trbojevic, he may require a bench utility for cover. Tyran Wishart has been touted for that role, but his suitability to cover the wider positions remains questionable, adding more complexity to Daley’s decision-making.
Tedesco Floated as Wildcard Option
In a surprise twist, commentator Andrew Voss has suggested that former NSW captain James Tedesco could be a wildcard pick—on the wing. Dropped in Game 2 last year in favour of Dylan Edwards, who impressed in his debut series, Tedesco has since returned to strong form with the Roosters.
“Why couldn’t James Tedesco play on the wing?” Voss asked on Thursday morning. “Can someone make a case against it?”
While former Blues selector Greg Alexander acknowledged the idea, he was hesitant to back it due to the depth of in-form wingers currently available. Nevertheless, with Origin fast approaching, Tedesco’s name is back in the mix, and Daley has some big calls ahead to finalize his backline.
