Laurie Daley is still weighing Dylan Edwards against James Tedesco for the NSW No. 1 jersey one week before state of origin game 1 2026 in Sydney on May 27. The Blues coach said only one will make the side, with NSW due to name its 20-man squad on Monday morning.
Daley’s fullback call
“I think when you look at both those players, they’re playing outstanding football,” Daley said on Monday morning. “One of those players is going to miss out.”
He added: “At this stage we’re looking at just one of them rather than the two of them.” Daley said, “It’s going to be extremely hard to leave them out, but at the end of the day it’s a rep side and you’ve got to go with what you think is best for that game.”
“There’s some big decisions to be made,” he said. “Sometimes you watch too much football and it can confuse you.”
Edwards And Tedesco Form
Both contenders have stayed in strong club form throughout 2026. Trent Robinson said Tedesco’s read of the game and his work in big moments is as good as he has seen.
Ivan Cleary has made the same case for Edwards. After the Panthers’ 30-18 win over Canberra on Sunday, he said Edwards has not done much wrong since replacing Tedesco in the NSW team.
That is why this call is sharper than a simple selection battle. Edwards is the incumbent in the NSW fullback role, while Tedesco is a former Blues captain and four-time premiership winner, and Daley will have one last club-form check this weekend before he narrows the group.
Magic Round To Monday
Tedesco’s Roosters play the Cowboys on Saturday night during Magic Round in Brisbane, then Edwards’ Panthers face the Dragons on Sunday. NSW will hold its final selection meeting on Sunday night after the Panthers-Dragons match before naming the 20-man squad the next morning.
Queensland is chasing a fourth series win in five years, so the fullback choice goes straight to the heart of how NSW wants to open the series at Sydney on May 27. One of Edwards or Tedesco will be left out, and Daley’s final call will decide which veteran or incumbent gets the jersey for the opener.
