NSW Blues announces James Tedesco to play Origin I as scans rule Dylan Edwards out

James Tedesco will play in the State of Origin series opener just days after being suspended after scans showed Dylan Edwards had strained his left quadriceps.

AAP has been told that Edwards will remain with the Blues but Tedesco will join the squad in Sydney instead of playing at fullback for the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.

Edwards went for scans on Sunday morning after suffering a painful injury following training at NSW’s Blue Mountains camp on Saturday.

The Blues said at the time that they would wait until Sunday to call on Edwards’ fitness and have since decided it would be too risky to play him.

James Tedesco (pictured) will play in the State of Origin opener just days after being sacked

Dylan Edwards strained his left quadriceps and will rest for the match

The New South Wales Rugby League is currently seeking exemption from the Australian Rugby League Commission to bring in Tedesco from outside their initial 20-man squad.

Pending that exemption is granted, Tedesco is set to make a fairytale return to the Blues, just days after Michael Maguire’s initial decision to sack him after 22 consecutive games as State’s wing-back.

“The NSWRL would like to thank the Sydney Roosters for the cooperation and understanding they have provided throughout the process,” the NSWRL said in a statement.

It looks like new skipper Jake Trbojevic will retain the Blues captaincy despite the return of Tedesco.

The Roosters named Joey Manu at fullback on their team sheet for the match against the Cowboys at Allianz Stadium, with center Michael Jennings coming into the centers after being named 18th man the day before kick-off.

The injury is a major blow for Edwards, who had finally been given a chance in the Origin arena after years as one of the NRL’s elite fullbacks.

Tedesco will return to the Blues just days after Michael Maguire’s initial decision to sack him after 22 consecutive games as State’s wing-back.

Prior to Maguire’s appointment as coach for the 2024 series, Tedesco had been a walk-up starter as captain and fullback for NSW, even as Edwards helped guide Penrith to three consecutive premierships.

Maguire’s call to ax Tedesco, who has been in strong form for the Roosters this season, divided opinion when the Blues’ team sheet was released last Sunday.

Before the news of Edwards’ injury, Roosters coach Trent Robinson said on Saturday it would have been a tough decision choosing between the two elite options.

“(But) they were both in the top three or four players in the league to start the year,” he said.

‘It was a difficult choice, I imagine.’

News Corp journalist Brent Read and former NRL star Wade Graham discussed the possibility of Edwards being replaced at radio station Triple M on Saturday.

“If Teddy has been put on standby, that would indicate that this is quite important and that they have genuine concerns about Dylan Edwards and his ability to play on Wednesday night,” Read said.

“It’s devastating for Edwards. You get selected, he has worked so hard and has been one of the best players in the league for the last three or four years and continues even if it is just a minor niggle and still manages to get into the game , it disrupts his preparation… it’s just not what you want when you’re on top of the world,” Graham said.