With State of Origin just around the corner, team selection is front of mind for NSW and Queensland supporters.
The great thing about Origin compared to club level is that there is no salary cap – there are multiple quality players in all positions and selectors and coaches can apply strategies and outside the box thinking that usually isn’t available at club level.
For instance, Queensland have used to great effect two superstar dummy-halves in Harry Grant and Ben Hunt over the last few years.
NSW have regularly chosen three elite club fullbacks and played two of them out of position on the wing or in the centres, again to great effect with Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell often producing standout performances.
Now I am going to suggest another out of the box selection – Tedesco on the bench.
Yes, Tedesco is an 80-minute everywhere type player who is currently in superb form. However, he is a similar type of player to Dylan Edwards, who was man of the match in the last Origin match.
Edwards has a 100+ game combination experience with key players like Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin and Brian To’o. With this in mind, playing Tedesco at fullback over Edwards could detracts from overall team chemistry and performance. Better to utilise his attributes elsewhere.
In choosing Tedesco on the bench the public and the Queensland team would think that he is selected as cover for backline positions, and while true, it is mostly a disguise for a different tactic.
Tedesco has different attributes including great dummy half running, tackle busting ability through his running style and hip strength, abundance energy, experience and leadership. These attributes lend themselves to him playing a roving lock type role coming on late in both halves as both packs tire.
James Tedesco. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Jumping into dummy-half multiple times, supporting ball runners, busting tackles and finding tired forwards offering small gaps for a fresh, quick and powerful Tedesco to run through.
If NSW are dominating Tedesco could run the tiring Queensland pack ragged. If Queensland are dominating, he could bring vital energy and go forward with multiple runs when NSW forward are struggling to get back onside to make hit-ups.
Yes, it is not the typical 80 minutes at fullback, but Tedesco could just provide 30-40 minutes of explosive and tireless impact that may help NSW to victory. Left field yes, but don’t underestimate the Teddy impact.
