Tedesco axed for Turbo? Joey open to shock Blues call
Andrew Johns is not putting a line through the prospect of Tom Trbojevic knocking James Tedesco out of the NSW fullback spot for the Suncorp Stadium decider.
The probability of Laurie Daley dropping Tedesco for the July 8 decider seems highly unlikely, given the respect the NSW coach has for the Blues and Roosters champion and his match-winning play in the series opener.
A dejected James Tedesco after the loss in Melbourne. Getty
But Johns said in the pre-season that Trbojevic should be the fullback if fit – and the rugby league Immortal did not shut the door on the prospect of a stunning swap when quizzed on Sunday.
“Well, he will be two games back from his injury spell coming into Origin III,” Johns said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“Part of me thinks, you know what, just pick the best players who have done it before on this stage – and I am talking about Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic.
“What James Tedesco and Dylan Edwards do is very similar. They are fullbacks built on effort, with a lot of their game based around the ruck and support play through the middle of the field.
“‘Turbo’ does that too, but he also links. He can link beautifully to the outside backs, and he can come up with x-factor plays. Because of that, he has to be in the team somewhere, whether you play him at fullback or not.”
Trbojevic spent two months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury but returned for Manly’s clash with Canterbury on Saturday night, won by the Bulldogs 13-12 in a golden-point thriller.
Trbojevic registered 196 run metres and broke out of four tackles in the Accor Stadium match.
More importantly, the 2021 Dally M Medallist played the entire game – all 83 minutes – and got through injury-free.
He will play one more game – against Melbourne next Saturday night – before Daley names his squad for the decider.
If Tedesco loses the No.1 jersey he will be dropped from the starting side altogether, given fullback is the only position the two-time Dally M Medallist plays, although he could be retained on the Blues’ six-man bench.
Tom Trbojevic (left) and Nathan Cleary during the 2021 State of Origin series. Getty
The prospect of Mitchell and Trbojevic lining up in the centres, and Tedesco remaining at fullback, is looming large.
Mitchell, who has been struggling with a back injury, is expected to return for South Sydney’s match against Parramatta on Thursday night.
“There are big decisions to make, but how we want to play tactically will ultimately determine if Turbo gets the No.1 jersey,” Johns added.
Panthers enforcer Liam Martin missed games one and two because of a knee injury but is back on the park and in the frame for an Origin comeback.
A barnstorming ball-carrier and kick-chaser who’s full of mongrel, many see Martin as a no-brainer selection for game three.
“I think he has to be there somewhere in the 17, or in the 19-man squad, but a spot in the 17 on the bench might be best,” Johns said.
“He is a player Queensland would genuinely fear because, as I said, he has that intense, almost ‘lunatic’ edge to him.
“You know exactly what you are going to get from him, especially on the kick chase where we tend to kick to our right a lot. Nathan Cleary kicks to our right, and that is the exact side Liam Martin plays on.
“If he came on to replace Haumole Olakau’atu, or vice versa, you know what kind of pressure they are going to apply chasing down those kicks. That is an area Brad Fittler spoke about regarding Queensland’s back three; they excel at getting forward.
“So having someone with that intensity would help negate their impact.”
