Phil Gould is positive James Tedesco will lead Brad Fittler’s NSW into Game 2

James Tedesco is under fire to keep his place for NSW, but Phil Gould has revealed why the Blues skipper will definitely line-up for Game 2.

Brad Fittler and James Tedesco. Photos: News and Getty Images

Former NSW coach Phil Gould says he would be “absolutely shocked, not surprised, absolutely shocked” if Brad Fittler drops James Tedesco for Game 2.

Tedesco, the Blues captain and reigning player of the year, has suddenly found himself under pressure after the opening loss to Queensland at Adelaide Oval.

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The scrutiny was particularly glaring when Tedesco was beaten to a high ball by Maroons prop Lindsay Collins in the final five minutes of the 26-18 defeat.

Yet Gould, one of the Blues’ most successful coaches over two stints at the helm, has no doubt what Fittler will do when it comes to selecting his team for Game 2 in Brisbane.

“I don’t know what (Fittler’s) thinking. I really don’t,” Gould said on the Six Tackles with Gus podcast.

“I would be absolutely shocked, not surprised, absolutely shocked if he’s even contemplating going without Tedesco.

James Tedesco (left), Cameron Murray and Apisai Koroisau during the Game 1 defeat to Queensland. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

Tedesco and Fittler in happier times at Rundle Mall. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

“He won’t do that. He’ll go down with his skipper if he has to go down. If they go down. They might not go down yet.

“There’s not much between these two sides. But whatever happens, the coach will take the captain with him. I can guarantee you.

“He’s got great faith in James Tedesco.”

Tedesco and Tom Trbojevic are among the players in the selection cross-hairs, with the latter unable to play again until the NSW side is picked for Origin 2 due to a head knock.

In-form duo Campbell Graham and Dylan Edwards are among the players waiting for an opportunity, but Gould believes Fittler’s planning has come too far for any wholesale changes now ahead of the Suncorp Stadium cauldron.

Does Nicho Hynes need to be in the starting team... and does it come at the expense of Jarome Luai?

NSW #Origin selection state of play: https://t.co/VqizIucZlUpic.twitter.com/dtGaxFGeYd

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) June 2, 2023

🔨 Hammer blow! 🔨

The try that sunk NSW to steal the Origin opener 🔴#9WWOS#StateofOriginpic.twitter.com/5ucWfW13Ry

— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) May 31, 2023

Fittler is contracted until the end of the 2023 series, but Gould believes Freddy will stand down if the Blues lose in Brisbane.

“Now everyone wants to throw everyone out and change the whole side,” Gould said.

“I don’t think, A, that‘s going to happen and, B, nor should it happen.

“If they went into that game picking close to what they thought was the best team to represent NSW, anything they change now is only going to make preparations for Game 2 more difficult, remembering where you’re going in Game 2.

“You’re going to Lang Park, you’re going to Suncorp Stadium. Unless you’ve experienced it, it slaps you in the face. It’s not a place for rookies or experimenting with the team.

“You have to go with the tried and true.

“I know Brad Fittler understands that if he loses this game, he’s probably going to stand down as Origin coach.

James Tedesco is under the microscope for his performance in Game 1. Picture: NRL Photos

Phil Gould is convinced Brad Fittler will stick with his NSW veterans.

“I don’t know whether he’s said that or whether that’s just media talk, but if that’s the case, I would suggest he picks a team that he can lose with and say he got the players that he wanted.

“That’s why I don’t think you'll see many changes. I think he’ll go down with the ship. He’ll go down with those that got him there and he’ll go with experience, as he should for the Suncorp Stadium game. This is not a game to experiment.

“If we happen to lose, then Game 3 you can start to introduce players and have them ready for next year.”

Gould gave a deep assessment of the opening game, calling NSW “clunky” and “frantic” at times and labelling their defence “brittle”.

Not our night, on to Game Two.#ForeverBlue | @maccaspic.twitter.com/Bvdnokuraq

— NSWBlues (@NSWBlues) May 31, 2023

He also gave enormous credit to the effort put in by the Queensland forward pack.

Plenty of the criticism over the NSW defeat was the fact they conceded two tries after Queensland’s Thomas Flegler was sent to the sin bin in the 68th minute.

Gould says that was the type of moment the Maroons relish.

“(NSW had) just got in front, they were in the shadows of the winning post, and all of a sudden Queensland was down to 12 men, which I think was an innocuous sin bin.

“Should not be a sin bin in any game, let alone an Origin game.

“I don’t think they respected the resilience that Queensland would show and what that would do for Queensland.

“Queensland is about creating moments. They’ve been brought up on this these kids, about backs-to-the-wall efforts and facing adversity.

“For them it was great. You beauty ... this is us. We’ve seen this movie before.

“I think NSW felt they could coast to the finish line and it didn’t work like that.”