James Tedesco returns to Blues for 2026 State of Origin series opener

• NSW coach Laurie Daley names six debutants for game 1

• Reece Walsh omitted from new-look Queensland squad

James Tedesco’s State of Origin exile is over with the Sydney Roosters captain seeing off Dylan Edwards to reclaim his crown as New South Wales’s premier fullback for the 27 May series opener in Sydney.

Picking between Edwards, who started all three games of last year’s losing series, was the hardest selection call Blues coach Laurie Daley had to make. But the form of the 33-year-old Tedesco, who has six tries and eight try assists across 10 games for the Roosters this season, proved too hard to resist.