"I don't want to let it go" Tedesco vows to never let jersey go
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Former Blues captain James Tedesco has spoken of his pride in regaining the NSW No.1 jersey and vowed never to surrender it again as he prepares to join Paul Gallen as the state’s third most capped Origin player.
Tedesco will be the most experienced player in either side when he runs out for his 24th Origin at Accor Stadium next Wednesday night - an achievement he doubted would come after being dropped for Dylan Edwards in 2024.
Only Blues greats Brad Fittler (31), Andrew Ettingshausen (27) and Gallen (24) have made more appearances for NSW than Tedesco, who is currently level with Laurie Daley, Andrew Johns and Jarryd Hayne after playing 23 consecutive Origins from 2016 until his axing in 2024.
The Blues won that series under Michael Maguire, and Tedesco was resigned to the fact his representative career may be over after Edwards in 2024 and Reece Walsh last year were preferred as the Kangaroos fullback.
However, Daley - in his second stint as NSW coach - said Tedesco was better suited to the playing style the Blues wanted to employ as they seek to regain the Origin Shield.
“I’m proud of myself to get back to this team and to this arena,” Tedesco said. “I think any player that plays the game wants to play in this game. It's the toughest game you can play, so being in this arena again, it's cool.
“I don’t want to let it go but you never know when it's your last time to put on this jersey.”
The 33-year-old could have done little more to push for a representative recall, winning the 2025 Dally M Medal and leading the NRL for run metres this season ahead of Edwards.
After last year sticking with the squad which won the 2024 series under Maguire, Daley has rung the changes by selecting 11 players who didn’t feature in last year’s series in his 19-man squad – Tedesco, Kotoni Staggs, Tolu Koula, Haumole Olakau’atu, Addin Fonua-Blake, Cameron Murray, Victor Radley, Jacob Saifiti, Blayke Brailey, Ethan Strange and Casey McLean.
“It’s a proud moment for me, but I do feel for Dyl,” Tedesco said. “I feel like he's done a great job in this jersey as well, but I feel like he is going to get another opportunity in the future.
“I wasn't sure if I was ever going to get back to being in this jersey again,” he said. “I think I probably accepted that Dyl was going to be the fullback, and I just wanted to put my best foot forward.
“For the past two years I haven't been playing representative footy, but I have been happy with my form at the Roosters and I guess just holding that consistency gave me a chance to be back in this team this year.”
Tedesco is one of six Roosters chosen in the Origin teams - three on either team - including halfback Sam Walker, who will make his debut for Queensland in place of the injured Tom Dearden.
England lock Victor Radley will also make his Origin debut for NSW, alongside Roosters hooker Reece Robson, while prop Lindsay Collins and centre Robert Toia are in the Queensland team.
The return of Tedesco for NSW and Walker’s call-up for the Maroons were two of the biggest selection stories when the teams were named on Monday and the pair will play opposite each other for the first time.
But Tedesco knows what to expect from Walker, whose responsibilities for the Maroons include kicking to put the Blues fullback and wingers under pressure – something he practices regularly at Roosters training with former Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans.
“I know him inside and out, so I know what he likes to do and what he sees,” Tedesco said. “It's about defending it and diffusing it, which is the tough part, so I definitely have to be on my game.
“We all recognise his talent. I think it was pretty clear when he came into first grade the talent – with his instincts, how he sees the game, his early kicks, his passing – that he's got all the skills and attributes.
“He's only 23 or 24, so he’s still got a lot of time, but I think that maturity and the leadership that you need as a halfback has been the big improvement for him this year.
“Playing with Daly has been a big part of that and going into this arena and playing at this level is only going to accelerate that.”
