Former top Fittler adviser drops the axe on James Tedesco's hopes of a Blues recall
Brad Fittler's former NSW Blues adviser has dropped the guillotine on James Tedesco's hopes of an Origin recall.
Penrith and Blues legend Greg Alexander was Fittler's right-hand man when Tedesco was first-choice fullback and captain only a couple of years ago.
But he now says Dylan Edwards is a certainty to be picked in the No.1 jumper by new coach Laurie Daley later this month, despite many experts believing Tedesco is a genuine chance of forcing his way back into the side.
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Tedesco was dumped last year in favour of Edwards, and the Blues won both games with their rookie fullback to clinch the series 2-1.
But Edwards has battled injury and a dip in form this season as his Panthers have managed just three wins from nine games to languish towards the bottom of the NRL ladder.
Nonetheless, Alexander named Edwards a lock when speaking on his SEN radio show on Tuesday.
Former Blues adviser Greg Alexander and Andrew Johns speak during the New South Wales State of Origin training. Getty
Stephen Crichton (centre), Brian To'o (wing), Tom Trbojevic (centre), Zac Lomax (wing), Nathan Cleary (halfback), Liam Martin (backrow), Angus Crichton (backrow), Isaah Yeo (lock), Payne Haas (prop), Spencer Leniu (bench), Mitch Barnett (bench), and Connor Watson (bench) are the other incumbents Alexander believes are assured of selection.
That is despite the fact the likes of To'o and Lomax have been sidelined with injuries at club level.
Alexander also conceded gun backrowers Hudson Young and Haumole Olakau'atu should be considered, after naming Martin and Crichton as locks.
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Intriguingly, Alexander has discounted winning captain Jake Trbojevic's chances of selection, and says Knights prop Jacob Saifiti is likely to beat the in-form Terrell May to his front-row spot.
"With Jake not there, there is a spot for a front rower. These are the three I think it comes down to - Terrell May, Stefano Utoikamanu, and Jacob Saifiti, who has done the job before," Alexander said.
Dylan Edwards of the Blues is tackled during Origin III. Chris Hyde via Getty Images
"I would go Jacob Saifiti. I would have someone like Jacob Saifiti in front of Terrell May... May has got a big workload, plays big minutes, (but) a lot of his runs are just runs, not necessarily impact.
"I wouldn't call them ineffective, but they are just runs. I just like the impact of someone like Jacob Saifiti."
Alexander believes Tigers hooker Api Koroisau is putting pressure on incumbent No.9 Reece Robson to keep his spot.
Fellow Panthers great Scott Sattler - who played one Origin game for Queensland in 2003 - believes Edwards will be named Blues fullback only as long as Cleary is the halfback.
There have been suggestions Mitchell Moses could bump Cleary out of the No.7 role, although that is highly unlikely.
Terrell May of the Tigers is hoping for a Blues debut. Getty
"If you base it purely on form, (the fullback would) be James Tedesco, but I think that Laurie Daley and any coach would look at what happened last year in that last game, and the connections and the combinations they had are going to play a huge part this year," Sattler told SEN.
"When it comes to the fullback, I think it's going to be your halves combination.
"I think if Nathan and Jarome (Luai) are seven and six, I think you'd have obviously Edwards.
"If it's Nathan and (Mitchell) Moses, does he go another way towards maybe a Tedesco or Tom Trbojevic?"
Daley will name his Blues squad after round 11.
