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The Live Sport Bible is here!Ford snubbed, as Barnett returns to NSW squad for Origin opener
George Clarke, AAP • May 18th, 2026 9:57 am
Jackson Ford | Photo: Brett Phibbs/Photosport
James Tedesco's State of Origin exile is over with the Sydney Roosters captain seeing off Dylan Edwards to reclaim his crown as NSW's premier fullback.
Tedesco - the most-capped fullback in Blues history - has usurped Penrith marathon man Edwards to be named in the No. 1 jersey for the May 27 series opener in Sydney.
Picking between Edwards, who started all three games of last year's losing series, was the hardest selection call Blues coach Laurie Daley had to make.
But the form of the 33-year-old Tedesco, who has six tries and eight try assists across 10 games for the Roosters this season, proved too hard to resist.
Perhaps the most notable omission is Jackson Ford, with the Warriors front-rower currently sitting second on the Dally M leaderboard. Hooker Wayde Egan was also considered a strong candidate to make his Origin debut but was overlooked in favour of Cronulla's Blayke Brailey.
Photo: Grant Trouville/NRL Photos
Game one will mark Tedesco's 24th Blues appearance and his first since the opening game of the 2024 series.
Tedesco has previously played with the majority of Daley's NSW side, which contains six debutants including Manly flyer Tolu Koula, Roosters lock Victor Radley and Cronulla duo Addin Fonua-Blake and Brailey.
Fonua-Blake and Radley have previously represented New Zealand and England in Test football but a change in eligibility rules over the off-season has permitted both players to make their Origin bows.
Koula, meanwhile, is named to line up on the wing alongside Brian To'o with Kotoni Staggs and Stephen Crichton picked in the centres.
The pair will be tasked with filling the void left by South Sydney's Latrell Mitchell, who withdrew from selection due to the fact he has struggling with a back injury over recent weeks.
Canberra's Ethan Strange and Penrith's Casey McLean are both uncapped and have been named on the bench alongside Radley, Cameron Murray and the recalled Jacob Saifiti.
The rest of the NSW side is as expected with Nathan Cleary partnering Mitchell Moses in the halves and Reece Robson selected at hooker.
NSW squad for Origin I:
1. James Tedesco, 2. Brian To'o, 3. Stephen Crichton, 4. Kotoni Staggs, 5. Tolu Koula*, 6. Mitchell Moses, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Mitch Barnett, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Haumole Olakau'atu, 13. Isaah Yeo (capt.)
Interchange: Cameron Murray, Victor Radley*, Jacob Saifiti, Blayke Brailey*, Ethan Strange*, Casey McLean*. Reserve: Dylan Lucas*
*debutant
Additional reporting by Sport Nation
