NSW Origin news: Dylan Edwards injury puts James Tedesco in frame, Nicho Hynes passes tough session
The NSW Blues are facing a crucial last-minute change to their team after Dylan Edwards pulled up sore at training with Roosters star James Tedesco placed on standby.
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James Tedseco will learn just after 9am on Sunday whether his State of Origin comeback for NSW is on.
In a stunning development, the former NSW captain could be back in blue just six days after being sensationally replaced by rival fullback Dylan Edwards.
Edwards triggered a series of emergency phone calls from NSW officials to Tedesco and his club the Roosters on Saturday after the champion Penrith fullback suffered a quad injury that has led to the unlikely return of the Blues most experienced no.1 in Origin history.
This masthead understands Edwards, who was eyeing his dream State of Origin debut against Queensland on Wednesday night in Sydney, declared the issue during the second-half of a NSW team training session on Saturday morning held at Blue Mountains Grammar School.
He was sent for scans on the quad complaint on Saturday with NSWRL officials informing the Roosters that the outcome of Edwards scans will be known by 9am on Sunday.
Edwards has told Blues officials he is confident that the concern is nothing sinister, leading to genuine optimism within the Blues camp that he will be cleared to resume his preparation with the Blues.
However, Blues officials also know that quad injuries can be problematic and given Edwards’ running game, wouldn’t be worth risking in such a taxing environment such as an Origin match.
It was Blues coach Michael Maguire that made the phone call to Roosters coach Trent Robinson to make the request for Tedesco to be placed on stand-by on Saturday afternoon.
Robinson is likely to promote Michael Jennings into the starting line-up and move Joseph Manu to fullback against the Cowboys, if Tedesco is required to replace Edwards for the Blues.
Tedesco, who featured in the past 22 matches for NSW before being axed for Edwards for the opener, would join the Blues inside camp in Sydney on Monday.
Crucially, it would give the champion custodian just one ballwork session to adjust to the style of play that Maguire has implemented with his new spine of Jarome Luai, Nicho Hynes and Reece Robson.
Maguire knows also that if he had to play Tedesco, he would have a player with a firm point to prove following his omission from the original 20-man squad.
In more positive news, Hynes, who has been under an injury cloud with a calf injury coming into the game, trained well in the opposed session.
The Blues have no doubt that Hynes will be fit for the Origin opener on Wednesday, leading to back-up halfback and 19th man Luke Keary being released from camp on Saturday afternoon to re-join the Roosters.
The Blues will spend their final night in their Blue Mountains camp on Saturday with their families before breaking camp on Sunday morning.
They will have their last big session for the week on Monday at the NSWRL centre of excellence at Sydney Olympic Park.
In some good news for NSW, Ivan Cleary was confident Edwards would be good to go.
“I spoke to both Madge (Maguire) and Dyl, there’s something that has happened there, I don’t think it’s too bad, but obviously the timing isn’t ideal, so we’ll have to wait and see,” Cleary told Fox League’s Lara Pitt.
“100% [I expect him to push through] but the (NSW) management have got to do what is best for the Blues and I’m sure they will.
“It will come to light what the story is tomorrow, but Dyl seemed pretty confident.”
HYNES MAKES SOLID PROGRESS, KEARY RELEASED TO ROOSTERS
The Blues had their first major hit out and most important session of the week at Blue Mountains Grammar School on Saturday.
Halfback Nicho Hynes, who has been under an injury cloud with a calf injury coming into the game, trained well in the opposed session.
The Blues are confident Hynes will be fit for the Origin opener on Wednesday, with replacement halfback Luke Keary expected to be released from camp on Saturday afternoon.
“He’s heaps good. He’s confident in himself as well, every time I ask him, I feel like I’m asking him too much, but he’s confident,” said centre Stephen Crichton before Saturday’s opposed session.
“I did a lot of kicking yesterday with him as well so he’s ready to go.”
The icy conditions provided a tough scene for the biggest hit out of camp so far, which included an opposed session against Panthers pathways players.
The side was made up of mostly SG Ball players, as well as fringe Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup players not required for one of Penrith’s three grades on Saturday.
Among them was rising star and talented front-rower Judah Galuvao, son of premiership-winning forward Joe Galuvao.
“He’s part of it? Mad,” said Panthers star Liam Martin.
“(I’m) not too sure (about the rest of the players), but it’s cool to be training against them.”
As well as Hynes, Martin is also under an injury cloud for the series opener with a glute problem but insists he’s in no doubt.
“It’s a glute, a deep hip rotator sort of thing, low grade, my hammy got cleared and it’s a quick recovery so they were pretty optimistic that it’ll be right. I’ll be right to go,” he said.
“ (Nicho is) feeling good, me and him warmed up together the other day and then we were in full training I think he’s feeling good, he’ll be ready to fire.
“He’s probably getting sick of the rest of us checking in so I think he’s ready to get out there with the team and rip in.”
The Blues will spend their final night in their Blue Mountains camp on Saturday with their families before breaking camp on Sunday morning.
They will have their last big session for the week on Monday at the NSWRL centre of excellence at Sydney Olympic Park.
Originally published as NSW Origin news: Dylan Edwards injury puts James Tedesco in frame, Nicho Hynes passes tough session
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