Laurie Daley’s telling NSW Blues hint as James Tedesco and Nicho Hynes snubbed from meet-up

Laurie Daley has dropped the biggest hint yet that two of the game’s most popular players will not pull on a Blues jersey in 2025.

The State of Origin futures of James Tedesco and Nicho Hynes have been dealt a fresh blow after Laurie Daley opted not to invite them to a meet-and-greet with players in the running for a Blues jersey in 2025.

The incoming NSW coach held a session with the 28 players he feels are most likely to get the nod come May, with some of the biggest names in the NRL – including Nathan Cleary, Mitchell Moses and Tom Trbojevic – spending several hours with Daley in a hotel conference room at Brighton-Le-Sands on Saturday.

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However, in a telling call they won’t be in Daley’s Blues team, Roosters star Tedesco – who Daley handed an Origin debut to in 2016 – and Cronulla halfback Hynes were not invited, Code Sports reports.

 “The get-together is about going through what I’m about and what my expectations are going to be,” Daley told Code Sports.

James Tedesco and Nicho Hynes are set to be left out of the 2025 NSW Blues squad.

“It’s about what I’ll be looking out for, what my values as a coach are, the things that I might see the same as Madge (Maguire), or different to Madge.”

Daley played down the importance of the meet-up and said it doesn’t mean other players, such as Tedesco, can’t make the team come May.

 “Nothing is locked in now, it’s too early, we could easily pick a player that isn’t in this 28 because, in reality, we could pick 50 players to come in,” Daley said.

“Last year there were a number of players that weren’t in the original squad that ended up playing in the series.

“I can give you three examples in Mitch Barnett, Connor Watson, Angus Crichton that didn’t make the initial squad, but ended up making the team.

“If you’re playing well, you’ll be considered.”

James Tedesco (left) is on the outer, while there is no guarantee Nathan Cleary (middle) will get his Blues spot back. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

In the wake of Michael Maguire’s Blues reign, Daley was a largely unpopular choice, given the fact he was fired from the job after winning just a single series while in charge between 2013 and 2017.

But regardless, much like his predecessor, it seems Daley is set to overlook the long-time Blues captain, in favour of Dylan Edwards in 2025.

Last year the 32-year-old received a late call-up just days before the series opener after Edwards withdrew due to injury.

But after the Penrith No. 1 was cleared to return, Tedesco was dropped for Origin II and III.

And it seems barring an injury to Edwards, Tedesco will miss out again in 2025.

Not only did Tedesco lose his Blues jersey last year, but he was also axed from the Kangaroos despite a career-high in try assists and tackle busts in 2024, with Daley part of the four-man selection panel that made the call.

Nicho Hynes has struggled in both NSW Blues appearances. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

As for Hynes, the Blues have seemingly shut the door on selecting him in 2025 after two failed runs in the team.

Hynes was replaced by Mitchell Moses at halfback for Game II and Game III last year after not making his mark on Game I.

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However, he had a reason to feel hard done by as in that game Joseph Suaalii was sent off in the opening minutes for a high shot on Reece Walsh, which saw the Blues forced to play a man short the rest of the game.

His axing marked the second time he was dropped from Origin in 12 months, after being cut following a 12-minute stint off the bench the year prior.

On that occasion, he missed a crucial tackle and failed to offer much on the attacking front.

And after two failures in a Blues jersey, Daley is set to overlook him in 2025, with the likes of Mitch Moses, Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai and Tyran Wishart all ahead of him in the pecking order.

Originally published as Laurie Daley’s telling NSW Blues hint as James Tedesco and Nicho Hynes snubbed from meet-up