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Billy Slater's lack of options for Maroons players for State of Origin a blessing and a curse
Billy Slater's lack of options for Maroons players for State of Origin a blessing and a curse

ABC News

time19-05-2025

  • Sport
  • ABC News

Billy Slater's lack of options for Maroons players for State of Origin a blessing and a curse

There are no free swings in State of Origin. A club coach might get some occasional leeway if their season is shattered by injuries or it feels like they need a year or two to get a team playing their way, but that's not the case if you're in charge of New South Wales or Queensland. Despite having less time, the stakes, expectations and quality of players mean you have to get it right straight away or you might be out on your ear. Queensland coaches always have fewer options than their southern counterparts, just through sheer force of numbers. Through some freak occurrence, enough top-line talent has been coming through both states to create a remarkable balance in Origin outcomes, with each enjoying a few golden eras along the way. But right now, the Blues look undeniably healthier. They can take a principled stance against picking Terrell May (even if it's unclear what that stance is based on), ditch captain Jake Trbojevic, not select Haumole Olakau'atu, and leave James Tedesco and Ryan Papenhuyzen on the couch. And May's omission is the only one that is hard to defend. That glut of options also means there's not always a "right" answer for Blues coaches. Mitchell Moses or Nathan Cleary instead of Jarome Luai, Hudson Young over Olakau'atu, Dylan Edwards over Teddy or Paps ... these are all understandable calls that will be picked apart by critics if this series, or even just Game I, goes awry. In fact, you could argue another player was worthy of a start in almost every position in the Blues squad — Tedesco at fullback, Trbojevic at centre or wing, Luai in the halves, Olakau'atu in the back row, May in the front row, Api Koroisau at hooker. For Billy Slater, the relative dearth of players means the equations are simpler. Despite Queensland ultimately naming more bolters and debutants, sitting down to list a Maroons team came with more locks than Rapunzel. Realistically, of the final 17 for the series opener, only Robert Toia, Moeaki Fotuaika, Beau Fermor and Trent Loiero were anything less than nailed on for weeks in the lead-up, even with dips in form from spine members Kalyn Ponga and Daly Cherry-Evans. You can wax lyrical about how Queensland is more loyal to its players than NSW has been and how it's a sign that the Maroons just 'get' Origin more. But, at the end of the day, you can't blame a kid who's been given 50 more toys to play with for being a little less attached to each and every one of them. And Slater, like so many Queensland coaches before him, has done more with less since getting the gig in 2022. The Blues won in 2021 with a combined 76-6 scoreline in the first two games, and only missed the first clean sweep in over a decade by three points in a series played entirely in Queensland. If back-to-back wins in 2018-19 were the emergence of a potential dynasty, that Trbojevic-Latrell Mitchell series four years ago was the confirmation of how good they could be. Somehow Slater reversed it, with bold selections and a quicksilver attack snatching two straight series and ending Brad Fittler's six-year reign as NSW coach in the process. The Melbourne and Queensland legend is big on the players' connection to the state and the Origin mythos, with his philosophical approach sardonically likened to that of a bush poet. Like Fittler encouraging his team to touch grass to get grounded before games, off-piste approaches are lauded as the eccentricities of a genius when they work but are lambasted as madness if the wins dry up. And last year, just as it did for Fittler in the final years of his tenure, some of the shine came off Slater. His "We're still Queenslanders" response when asked about potential changes after a 20-point Game II loss baffles to this day, and his team ultimately failed to score a try in a decider as they surrendered the shield at home. Some choices, like not injecting Kalyn Ponga to replace an ailing Reece Walsh in Game III last year, have been questioned and his criticism of the refereeing in that game also smacked of sour grapes. The decision to pick Storm lock Trent Loiero over Canberra firebrand Corey Horsburgh in this year's season opener has also raised some eyebrows. Slater may yet be proven right as he has in the past, but if Queensland loses a second straight series, the miracles of 2022 and 2023 will be forgotten in a hurry. Fittler overhauled the Blues in 2018 and became the first coach since Phil Gould in 2004 to lead NSW to successive series wins, but his last two years have seen him remembered as a bad coach. In sport, it's often the last impression that matters most, or at least the loudest. In his fourth straight men's series, Slater has already done what 23 Origin coaches before him have failed to do. If he makes it to five, he will be just the fifth to have led his state for half a decade without interruption, but in that list only Mal Meninga and Phil Gould have universal approval ratings. Fittler led dominant wins in 2018 and 2021 with a last-second decider win in 2019 for good measure, but lost the unlosable in 2020 and finished with two brutal defeats. Laurie Daley ended Queensland's eight-straight streak in 2014, but finished with three straight series losses and is coming back this year to try and fix his 1-4 record. All of them are greats of the game and Slater could one day join the ranks of the Immortals, but it's amazing how quickly a mood can shift, and with only three games each year, the margins are finer in Origin than anywhere else. If he comes out of 2025 with a 2-2 record and a second straight defeat, people won't remember the untimely injuries to the likes of Tom Gilbert, Jack Howarth, Max Plath and Murray Taulagi. And if it comes to that, you can bet "we're still Queenslanders" will pass the sniff test even less than it did the first time. 1 Kalyn Ponga, 2 Xavier Coates, 3 Robert Toia, 4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 5 Valentine Holmes, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans (c), 8 Moeaki Fotuaika, 9 Harry Grant, 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, 11 Reuben Cotter, 12 Jeremiah Nanai, 13 Pat Carrigan, 14 Tom Dearden, 15 Lindsay Collins, 16 Beau Fermor, 17 Trent Loiero, 18 Kurt Mann, 19 Jesse Arthars, 20 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 1 Dylan Edwards, 2 Brian To'o, 3 Stephen Crichton, 4 Latrell Mitchell, 5 Zac Lomax, 6 Mitchell Moses, 7 Nathan Cleary, 8 Mitchell Barnett, 9 Reece Robson, 10 Payne Haas, 11 Liam Martin, 12 Angus Crichton, 13 Isaah Yeo (c), 14 Connor Watson, 15 Spencer Leniu, 16 Hudson Young, 17 Max King, 18 Campbell Graham, 19 Stefano Utoikamanu, 20 Haumole Olakau'atu

Tedesco 'not expecting much' as Origin selection looms
Tedesco 'not expecting much' as Origin selection looms

The Advertiser

time15-05-2025

  • Sport
  • The Advertiser

Tedesco 'not expecting much' as Origin selection looms

James Tedesco is not expecting a phone call from Laurie Daley this weekend as the NSW State of Origin coach decides on his team for the series opener. It's not that the 23-time Blues representative has lost motivation to represent his state, it's just that he no longer puts pressure on himself to be selected. Sydney Roosters captain Tedesco says it's that lack of pressure fuelling the form that has catapulted him back into Origin calculations. Tedesco's NSW career appeared over when Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards usurped him for Origin II last year and helped inspire the two victories that confirmed a NSW series win. But this year, Tedesco's form and fitness have been superior to Edwards' on a Panthers side that has spiralled to the bottom four on the NRL ladder. The 2021 Origin series-winning captain and NSW's most-capped fullback, Tedesco sits among the greatest-ever Blues and is considered Daley's leading option outside of Edwards. But the Roosters star has been at peace with his lack of Origin selection since Edwards replaced him last year. "I'm not expecting much, to be honest," said Tedesco when asked of his selection chances for the May 28 series opener. "I still feel like I can perform at that level. I still feel like the way that I'm playing means I can do good things in that jersey. "But I haven't put too much pressure on myself to really want to make this team. "I'd love to because we play the game to play in representative teams and to be the best in your position. "That's still there, but energy wise I haven't given it too much thought - and that's shown in the way that I'm playing." Tedesco has been the shining light on a hot-and-cold Roosters side this season, sitting equal-third on the Dally M leaderboard through 10 rounds. The 32-year-old has made the second-most tackle breaks, run for the second-most metres of any player in the league and crossed for two tries in the round-eight win over St George Illawarra on Anzac Day. He said his form was no coincidence, given he has been free from the yearly scrutiny about keeping his Origin spot. "I haven't felt that, which has freed me up and allowed me to play my best footy," he said. "Even though there's been more talk about it over the past few weeks, nothing really changed for me. "As I've got older and more experienced, I'm a lot better at (handling) that. "When you're young, you're looking for people to give you positive comments. But I've realised to let go of that so I'm not focused on that." The Origin captaincy has been another hot-button issue this year, with last year's skipper Jake Trbojevic no guarantee of being selected. Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary and Stephen Crichton are all options to captain the state if Trbojevic misses out. "There's so many leaders who would do a great job so I don't think you can go wrong with whoever they're going to pick," said 11-time Origin captain Tedesco. James Tedesco is not expecting a phone call from Laurie Daley this weekend as the NSW State of Origin coach decides on his team for the series opener. It's not that the 23-time Blues representative has lost motivation to represent his state, it's just that he no longer puts pressure on himself to be selected. Sydney Roosters captain Tedesco says it's that lack of pressure fuelling the form that has catapulted him back into Origin calculations. Tedesco's NSW career appeared over when Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards usurped him for Origin II last year and helped inspire the two victories that confirmed a NSW series win. But this year, Tedesco's form and fitness have been superior to Edwards' on a Panthers side that has spiralled to the bottom four on the NRL ladder. The 2021 Origin series-winning captain and NSW's most-capped fullback, Tedesco sits among the greatest-ever Blues and is considered Daley's leading option outside of Edwards. But the Roosters star has been at peace with his lack of Origin selection since Edwards replaced him last year. "I'm not expecting much, to be honest," said Tedesco when asked of his selection chances for the May 28 series opener. "I still feel like I can perform at that level. I still feel like the way that I'm playing means I can do good things in that jersey. "But I haven't put too much pressure on myself to really want to make this team. "I'd love to because we play the game to play in representative teams and to be the best in your position. "That's still there, but energy wise I haven't given it too much thought - and that's shown in the way that I'm playing." Tedesco has been the shining light on a hot-and-cold Roosters side this season, sitting equal-third on the Dally M leaderboard through 10 rounds. The 32-year-old has made the second-most tackle breaks, run for the second-most metres of any player in the league and crossed for two tries in the round-eight win over St George Illawarra on Anzac Day. He said his form was no coincidence, given he has been free from the yearly scrutiny about keeping his Origin spot. "I haven't felt that, which has freed me up and allowed me to play my best footy," he said. "Even though there's been more talk about it over the past few weeks, nothing really changed for me. "As I've got older and more experienced, I'm a lot better at (handling) that. "When you're young, you're looking for people to give you positive comments. But I've realised to let go of that so I'm not focused on that." The Origin captaincy has been another hot-button issue this year, with last year's skipper Jake Trbojevic no guarantee of being selected. Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary and Stephen Crichton are all options to captain the state if Trbojevic misses out. "There's so many leaders who would do a great job so I don't think you can go wrong with whoever they're going to pick," said 11-time Origin captain Tedesco. James Tedesco is not expecting a phone call from Laurie Daley this weekend as the NSW State of Origin coach decides on his team for the series opener. It's not that the 23-time Blues representative has lost motivation to represent his state, it's just that he no longer puts pressure on himself to be selected. Sydney Roosters captain Tedesco says it's that lack of pressure fuelling the form that has catapulted him back into Origin calculations. Tedesco's NSW career appeared over when Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards usurped him for Origin II last year and helped inspire the two victories that confirmed a NSW series win. But this year, Tedesco's form and fitness have been superior to Edwards' on a Panthers side that has spiralled to the bottom four on the NRL ladder. The 2021 Origin series-winning captain and NSW's most-capped fullback, Tedesco sits among the greatest-ever Blues and is considered Daley's leading option outside of Edwards. But the Roosters star has been at peace with his lack of Origin selection since Edwards replaced him last year. "I'm not expecting much, to be honest," said Tedesco when asked of his selection chances for the May 28 series opener. "I still feel like I can perform at that level. I still feel like the way that I'm playing means I can do good things in that jersey. "But I haven't put too much pressure on myself to really want to make this team. "I'd love to because we play the game to play in representative teams and to be the best in your position. "That's still there, but energy wise I haven't given it too much thought - and that's shown in the way that I'm playing." Tedesco has been the shining light on a hot-and-cold Roosters side this season, sitting equal-third on the Dally M leaderboard through 10 rounds. The 32-year-old has made the second-most tackle breaks, run for the second-most metres of any player in the league and crossed for two tries in the round-eight win over St George Illawarra on Anzac Day. He said his form was no coincidence, given he has been free from the yearly scrutiny about keeping his Origin spot. "I haven't felt that, which has freed me up and allowed me to play my best footy," he said. "Even though there's been more talk about it over the past few weeks, nothing really changed for me. "As I've got older and more experienced, I'm a lot better at (handling) that. "When you're young, you're looking for people to give you positive comments. But I've realised to let go of that so I'm not focused on that." The Origin captaincy has been another hot-button issue this year, with last year's skipper Jake Trbojevic no guarantee of being selected. Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary and Stephen Crichton are all options to captain the state if Trbojevic misses out. "There's so many leaders who would do a great job so I don't think you can go wrong with whoever they're going to pick," said 11-time Origin captain Tedesco.

Why Tedesco's raw honesty is perfect for Origin
Why Tedesco's raw honesty is perfect for Origin

Perth Now

time15-05-2025

  • Sport
  • Perth Now

Why Tedesco's raw honesty is perfect for Origin

A circumspect James Tedesco says he's 'not expecting much' when the NSW team is announced on Monday, with the former Blues skipper fully focused on the Roosters and not weighed down by the pressure of trying to win the fullback spot. Tedesco would love to represent his state again but hasn't been obsessed with trying to prove anything as others debate whether he should replace Dylan Edwards at the back. The 32-year-old isn't slowing down and is playing some of the best footy of his career, with the Roosters superstar finishing second in Dally M voting last season in a year where he also lost his Blues jersey to his Panthers rival. Tedesco has played 23 matches for his state – including last year's series opener after Edwards pulled out with an injury – and no one would be surprised if returning coach Laurie Daley picked him for the match on May 28. His numbers in attack have been extraordinary over the past 12 months, but he isn't predicting a phone call this weekend. 'I'm not expecting much, to be honest,' he said. 'I'm putting my energy into the Roosters at the moment. I know that there's a lot of external talk about different positions and players in form, but I haven't really put too much energy into it because I know that if I do start worrying about it, then it'll affect my footy. 'I haven't felt that pressure of getting picked for NSW, so I've just been out enjoying my footy and leading from the front. That's been the key to me getting back to my footy. 'I hold myself to a high standard every game of every week. I know that if I put all the work in that week and I tick the boxes physically and mentally, then I can go out and play and enjoy my footy. 'I feel like I've done that really well this year not worrying about external pressures of Origin and other people's opinions. That's really freed me up. 'I just have to keep playing my footy. I know that if I do that and stay on the field and stay fresh, I know I can lead us to success, which is my main goal.' James Tedesco and Dylan Edwards are the two leading candidates to play fullback for the Blues. Tim Hunter Credit: News Corp Australia Tedesco spent years hearing chat about Edwards, Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell replacing him at the back for the Blues, with the workhorse fullback silencing his critics every time with huge numbers in Origin. But there's a different vibe this time around with Tedesco going from the Origin hunted to a man on the outside, and that suits him perfectly ahead of Friday's blockbuster battle with the Bulldogs. 'It's easier than being on the other side,' he said. 'I was there for seven or eight years as fullback, and then the start of the year rolls around and people start talking about form and other fullbacks. I think that was definitely harder, and I haven't felt that (this year) which has freed me up and allowed me to play my best footy. 'Even though there's been more talk about it over the past few weeks, nothing really changed for me. I think as I've got older and more experienced, I'm a lot better at that. When you're young, you're looking for people to give you positive comments. 'But I've realised to let go of that so I'm not focused on that. 'I still feel like I can perform at that level. I still feel like the way that I'm playing means I can do good things in that jersey. But I haven't put too much pressure on myself to really want to make this team. 'I'd love to because we play the game to play in representative teams and to be the best in your position. That's still there, but energy-wise, I haven't given it too much thought and that's shown in the way that I'm playing.'

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