NRL 2021: All the latest NSW Blues team news; James Tedesco following Boyd Cordner’s lead

Blues captain James Tedesco has revealed how a former NSW skipper has helped shape him as a leader heading into this year’s State of Origin series.

Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues State of Origin team photo at Coogee Surf Club this morning ahead of this year's competition. Pictured is (left) Jerome Luai, Liam Martin and Brian To'o. Picture: David Swift

He will be 2000km away but former Blues skipper Boyd Cordner’s leadership DNA will still run heavily through the NSW side for State of Origin I in Townsville.

Current captain James Tedesco has revealed how he privately refers to Cordner’s captaincy convictions and attitude when confronting his own issues – on and off the field – when leading the Blues.

While Cordner will be in Sydney next Wednesday night, unavailable through repeated concussions, the Sydney Roosters forward will still play a significant role through his influence on Tedesco.

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“There are lots of times when I think about Boyd, and how he has done it over the period of time he’s been captain,” Tedesco said.

“Boyd has captained me at the Roosters, state and Australia. I do think sometimes how Boyd would act or what he would say and channel that into myself.

James Tedesco has learnt a lot from former Blues skipper Boyd Cordner. Picture: Brett Costello

“We all know how Boyd plays. He has that presence as a player – and as a bloke — on and off the field and just the way he holds himself as a man.

“There are certain circumstances on and off the field where he takes control and gets everyone in and has a word. He leads by his actions too, just little things like that.

“We might exchange a few messages (before a game) but Boyd knows the person and leader I am. He’s not the type of guy to go and tell me what to do but he just tells me to back myself and that’s all the confidence I need.

“As a fullback, I say my piece but, as a captain, I have to take more responsibility for how the team performs and for getting a feeling about training. I have learnt a lot over the past year or so about myself and being a leader. I’m pretty comfortable where I am at the moment.

“I’m also different to Boyd and I want to be myself – I got to this position by being the person I am – that’s the best way to be a leader. I don’t want to shy away from that but I can have more communication to be that prime example of a leader.”

Cordner said: “I love watching Teddy step up in big games – I think he’s in for a big series this year.”

While it may go against his natural personality, Tedesco admitted he needed to be “hard” on players when skipper.

“My natural way as a person and a player is to let things go and not dwell on it,” he said. “But, as a captain, you have to be a bit hard sometimes. I like to lead with my actions but feel like my talk over the past year or so has really increased and improved.

James Tedesco likes to lead by his actions on the field. Picture: Tim Hunter

“I have a responsibility to talk more and try to get the boys ‘on’ all the time, especially at the Roosters. We have had a lot of ups and downs through this year. I’m trying to be that rock for a lot of our younger boys to lean on and be a voice and hold people accountable.”

Asked about Cordner’s impact on Tedesco, NSW adviser Greg Alexander said: “Boyd has been a big influence on Teddy’s leadership. Teddy is captain because he knows the game backwards. He is the voice of the team.”

Tedesco led NSW in games two and three last series but was taken from the field heavily concussed during the decider in Brisbane after collecting the knee of Queensland’s Josh Papalii.

He was named 2020 skipper after Cordner was knocked out in game one at Adelaide.

Tedesco and all NSW players play under additional pressure this series after losing last year when clear favourites.

James Tedesco shares a laugh with Blues winger Josh Addo-Carr. Picture: David Swift

“It was disappointing how it ended last year, especially for myself, I don’t really remember much after getting that head knock,” he said. “It wasn’t a great performance up there either.

“There are a lot of the boys from team that have come in this year and want to make amends for that. It’s a proud moment to captain these boys and be the leader for our state. It’s pretty cool.

“To win a series as a captain, I don’t think many people would be able to say that in their lives. It’s a great opportunity for me and the boys and we’re looking forward to the next few weeks. There are exciting times ahead.”

BLUES URGED TO TARGET TEDDY ATTACKER

By Fatima Kdouh and Dean Ritchie

NSW players must evoke the “Blues Brothers” mentality and put a target on Jai Arrow’s back, former enforcer Mark ‘Spudd’ Carroll says.

Arrow had been on the field for just 13 seconds when he drew the ire of every NSW fan for picking up and shoving an unconscious James Tedesco to the ground in the 19th minute of last year’s game three series decider at Suncorp Stadium.

Despite Arrow being unaware that Tedesco was knocked out, the incident was one of the ugliest in the Origin arena since punching was banned back in 2013.

Queensland's Jai Arrow attacks a concussed James Tedesco. Picture supplied

Seven months on, Carroll believes the Blues big men must square-up against Arrow, like Tedesco’s Sydney Roosters teammates did in round three, for how the Maroons forward treated their captain.

“That’s the Roosters, they we’re aiming up for their captain and teammate, but deep down every Blues player will want to give it to him. They have to,” Carroll said.

“When you are out there, you are playing for the state but you are also playing for your Blue brothers.

“I was just pissed off last year that nothing happen straight away. No one ran in, no one said to Arrow ‘run at me next tackle, I’m going to drop ya’, none of that happened.”

The Roosters went looking for Souths star Arrow, when the bitter arch rivals clashed in a fiery encounter earlier this year in round three.

Veteran forward and spiritual leader Jared Waerea-Hargreaves made a point of seeking out Arrow. But emotion got the better of rising forward Daniel Suluka-Fifita who was sin binned for punching Arrow in the back of the head in a tackle.

Tedesco was taken from the field after the incident in game three and did not reappear.

On Tuesday, Tedesco insisted the incident would not spill over into the series opener on June 9 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

“Obviously the Roosters boys took it a bit personal because it‘s against South Sydney and there is that rivalry anyway. There is obviously a lot of talk about it in the last year,” Tedesco said.

“There is no bad blood between me (and Arrow).

“I don’t think anyone is going to go out and try and take his head off … that’s the nature of the sport anyway against Queensland, it’s going to be a battle, but there is no personal battle there.”

Tedesco revealed he wasn’t aware of what Arrow had done until he watched the replays on the incident.

“I was a bit out of it, I came back out in the second half but I don’t really remember much, even the whole incident I don’t remember what happened until I watched it back,” Tedesco said.

Tedesco says he holds no grudges against Arrow.

The concussion forced Tedesco, arguably the Blues’ most important player, to watch Queensland re-claim the Origin shield in 2020 from the sidelines.

The Blues captain has made it a “personal” mission to avenge the loss in 2021.

“It was disappointing how it all ended. Obviously I wanted to do my best to lead the boys to victory but I couldn’t really do anything about it … there is hunger there to get that shield back but and do everything I can personally as the captain to lead our team to victory,” Tedesco said.

Luai won’t go orthodox, even for Origin

NSW five-eighth Jarome Luai has scoffed at suggestions he will be forced to play a conservative role in State of Origin I, declaring: “I won’t be changing my style.”

Luai has become a rugby league free spirit, his unstructured “eyes up” footy inspiring Penrith to a historic 12-0 start to the NRL season.

He has posted 16 line break assists, 14 try assists, six try contributions and 23 tackle busts this season for the unbeaten Panthers.

Jarome Luai says his style won’t change in Origin. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Queensland, however, claim Luai will be controlled and managed into a more conventional game, an accusation laughed off by NSW adviser Greg Alexander.

Asked would the intensity of Origin curtail his flamboyance, Luai said: “I’m just going to do what got me here. I’m not going to change much. I’m not going to shy away from that.

“I don‘t have to change too much, just play with that flair and confidence that I do when at Penrith and not getting frightened by the occasion.

“And that’s the beauty of having ‘Nath’ (Nathan Cleary) here as well – he allows me to do what I do. He’s captain of the ship pretty much and I’ve got his back and it’s so cool having him here.

“I have that combination with Nathan. He‘s going to let me do what I do at club level. Knowing already that I’m playing, it’s a different mindset.

“I’m really grateful and blessed. I will prepare the best I can and give the boys my best out there. To achieve pretty much the biggest accolade you can get, State of Origin, only the best players get to put this jersey on.

“I will build my game around the tough stuff and the little things.”

Former Queensland star Ben Ikin questioned whether Luai and Cleary would be allowed the same unorthodox approach the pair enjoy at Penrith.

“I just don’t know if the style that Cleary and Luai bring to club football, they will be allowed to play in State of Origin,” Ikin said on Fox Sports.

The Luai and Cleary partnership finds a new colour.

“It’s a different style of game, it’s a long, hard grind with limited space.

“Cleary is in the form of his career, there’s no doubting he is the best playmaker in the competition. But I wonder, Jarome Luai, whether his style will work in the Origin arena.”

Alexander said Luai will be given a license to play his free rein footy.

“No one tells Jarome he can’t do this or can’t do that,” Alexander said.

“Jarome will go out and play his natural game. He will play with the same freedom he does when at Penrith.

“That understanding Jarome has with Nathan, they don’t even need to talk to each other. It doesn’t have to be verbal for them to react to each other.”

Cleary has posted 15 try assists this season, meaning he and Luai have a total of 30 for the season.

Asked how he decided between Luai and Jack Wighton as starting five-eighth, NSW coach Brad Fittler said: “It was close but it’s hard to ignore what Penrith are doing at the moment.”