Tedesco ready to fire after shock Blues recall

James Tedesco insists he doesn't have a point to prove after his late call-up to the NSW side for Wednesday's State of Origin opener. 

The former NSW captain was controversially dropped from the team but was sensationally recalled just four days out from kick-off after rookie Dylan Edwards succumbed to a quad injury on Sunday morning. 

Tedesco, however, revealed his focus will be on doing whatever it takes to secure the Blues a victory rather than sending a message to coach Michael Maguire.

"I don't think that's my mentality," Tedesco said. "My mentality is doing what's best for the team, playing my best footy and creating the win. That's the most important thing for me.

"We're at home, our first game here, it's really important to win that first game. You get off to a good start and that's definitely my goal at the moment."

Edwards' injury sparked a weekend of chaos, with Tedesco put on standby on Saturday before his inclusion in the team was confirmed on Sunday morning. As a result, he missed the Roosters' clash with the Cowboys later that day.

Tedesco's joy has been matched by Edwards' agony, the Panthers fullback denied the opportunity to make his NSW debut in the cruellest of fashions. 

The 28-year-old's selection was Maguire's biggest call ahead of his first game in charge of the Blues. 

Tedesco has played 22-straight Origin games and captained his state since 2020. He is also the Australian captain and a World Cup winner. 

Maguire, however, decided it was time for a change at the back, with Edwards emerging as the form fullback in the NRL. 

Tedesco was disappointed with the decision but said he had accepted he would be watching the Origin opener from the living room before this weekend's drama. 

"There's been injuries all throughout the year so you never know what will happen, but I definitely accepted this week I wasn't going to be playing," he said. "I was going to be watching from home and cheering on the boys.

"I said leading up to this game I would always back whatever Madge chooses and I did that. And now I'm back playing, so it's funny how the world works."

Tedesco missed the squad's Blue Mountains training camp and will have just two training sessions with the team before Wednesday's clash. 

He's confident, however, past combinations will serve him well and allow him to side seamlessly back into the fold. 

Tedesco has three Roosters teammates in the Blues squad and has played numerous Origin games alongside NSW veterans such as skipper Jake Trbojevic, Isaah Yeo and five-eighth Jarome Luai. 

"I've played with most of these guys or I've been in camps with pretty much all of them, it's not like I don't know any of them," Tedesco said.

"I know how most of these guys play and I know [some of them] on a personal level so that definitely helps coming into camp and knowing the guys. I've got a couple of training sessions with them together, so just building that connection. It's a different preparation than I've had before."

After his side went down to the Cowboys 18-16 on Sunday Roosters coach Trent Robinson said although it was difficult to lose his fullback on game day the 'overriding' emotion was excitement for the star fullback.    

"It's a hard one. When Madge called yesterday, you've got to go through all the changes that are going to happen to your team but the simplicity of it is that you're really happy for James," Robinson said post-match on Sunday.

"You have players and you want them to play in Origin and we all felt for him this week. Dylan deserved his spot but we all felt for James because he's been playing outstanding footy.

"So in the end, the overriding thing is he's desperate to play any rep footy he can, he loves pulling on the Blues and the Australian jersey and I can't wait to watch him on Wednesday."