NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley has dropped Dylan Edwards for James Tedesco as he revealed a new-look team with seven fresh faces for State of Origin Game 1.
Daley made a total of eight changes to his starting 13 that ran out in Game 3 last year, with several inclusions leaving fans stunned.
Queensland had their own selection surprises with Billy Slater dropping Reece Walsh and naming six debutants in his 20-man squad for the series opener.
For NSW, arguably no decision was more controversial than Tedesco winning back the No.1 jersey.
The Roosters fullback earned a recall after a brilliant 2025 season and a strong start to 2026.
The 33-year-old has not featured for the Blues since he was dropped for Game 1 of the 2024 series, only to be recalled after Edwards was injured during training.
His uncharacteristically quiet performance against the Cowboys at Magic Round wasn’t enough to change Daley’s mind, given the nod over Edwards.
It is a brutal blow for the Panthers fullback, who has always impressed at Origin level and hardly put a foot wrong this season.
And fans were left stunned by the decision to go back to Tedesco, arguing Edwards has done nothing wrong to warrant being dropped.
“Crazy that both fullbacks from Australia’s Ashes tour — Dylan Edwards and Reece Walsh — won’t feature in Origin I,” popular rugby league page NRL Central wrote on X.
“Wondering if NSW selectors watched Panthers v Dragons game where Dylan Edwards ran for 267 metres in the wet (104PC).. 5 tackle busts & epic try saver on the eastern edge? Pretty good audition to me,” Zane Bojack said.
“Leaving Dylan Edwards out is criminal,” a third added.
While a fourth said: “Nothing against Teddy he’s great but dropping Edwards is so wrong”.
While Josh Addo-Carr, Campbell Graham and Jack Bostock all were overlooked for the vacant wing spot.
With wingers Jacob Kiraz and Mark Nawaqanitawase sidelined with long-term injuries, Daley was expected to turn to a specialist, but instead landed on Manly centre Tolu Koula to fill the vacant spot left by Zac Lomax.
In another surprise, Penrith centre Casey McLean has earned a spot on the extended bench, alongside Ethan Strange and Blayke Brailey, with Conor Watson overlooked entirely.
There were no shocks at centre, with Stephen Crichton and Kotoni Staggs named, with the latter a clear cut choice after Latrell Mitchell was ruled out with injury on Sunday. And Mitch Moses and Nathan Cleary will team up in the halves as anticipated.
It means only three backs will retain their spots from NSW’s Game 3 defeat last year, Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton and Cleary.
While several players were axed entirely, including Edwards, Jarome Luai, Max King, Connor Watson, Stefano Utoikamanu and Spencer Leniu.
The in-form Jackson Ford also surprisingly failed to win a spot in Daley’s squad.
On his omission Daley said: “Jackson’s another one we thought about. He’s sort of that mobile sort of player. We needed someone that can play on an edge if required and Jackson’s probably the guy that just plays through the middle.
“There are always people that are unlucky. At the end of the day we feel like this is a really good team.”
It is a NSW team that not many would have picked heading into Sunday night and the selections of Koula, Radley and Saifiti in particular has been met with swift backlash from NSW fans online.
“Surely this is a joke? Radley and Saifiti and no Ford,” one fan commented on the NSW team announcement on X.
“Radley and Saifiti are genuine head scratchers. I still wouldn’t have AFB either. Laurie Daley has never instilled me with any confidence,” a second said.
“Yikes, That bench is small and Saifiti? hasn’t exactly been setting the world on fire has he?” a third wrote.
“Koula on the wing? Sure as an impact sub but what another silly call from Daley,” a fourth added.
“Koula has never played wing for manly he should be put in centre. Laurie does it again FMD,” a fifth commented.
“That bench is deadset the worst thing I’ve ever seen,” another wrote.
NSW team for Origin 1:
1. James Tedesco
2. Brian To’o
3. Stephen Crichton
4. Kotoni Staggs
5. Tolutau Koula (debut)
6. Mitchell Moses
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Addin Fonua-Blake (debut)
9. Reece Robson
10. Mitch Barnett
11. Hudson Young
12. Haumole Olakau’atu
13. Isaah Yeo
14. Cameron Murray
15. Victor Radley (debut)
16. Jacob Saifiti
17. Blayke Brailey (debut)
18. Ethan Strange (debut)
19. Casey McLean (debut)
20. Dylan Lucas (debut)
