After long-time Blues captain James Tedesco was dropped from the New South Wales squad in 2024's State of Origin series in favour of Dylan Edwards, it was believed that the fullback dilemma had finally been settled.
However, Edwards' unfortunate start to 2025 has seen him battered and bruised, struggling to stay consistently fit.
It can be said that the little time he has spent on the field has been just as disappointing, playing mediocre football for one of the surprise letdowns of the year: the Penrith Panthers.
The same cannot be said for discarded Blues skipper James Tedesco, who has continued his elite form from 2024 that saw him just miss out on a Dally M medal.
The 32-year-old has been electric for the Sydney Roosters, making a real case for a potential return to the Origin arena.
As the two most recent Blues fullbacks battle it out to cement their spots in their state's side, Melbourne Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen has also thrown his hat into the race, finally returning to the elite form that saw him win the Clive Churchill Medal in 2020.
With three all-star fullbacks hoping to make it into the Origin arena come May 28, only one can don the famous No. 1 jersey. Will it be the incumbent fullback in Edwards, the discarded legend in Tedesco, or the underdog superstar in Papenhuyzen?
2. A case for James Tedesco
One of the greatest New South Welshmen to don the Blues logo, James Tedesco's longevity should be studied in schools.
The 32-year-old seems to keep getting better with age and, despite losing his Origin spot in 2024, is currently the best fullback in the NRL.
If you were to tell a Blues fan a year ago that Tedesco was the frontrunner for the fullback spot in 2025, they would have rolled their eyes.
However, with Edwards struggling to make a solid impact for the woeful Penrith Panthers, 'Teddy' has seen his Origin prospects skyrocket.
The 23-game Origin veteran is one of the most capped Blues of all time, and it seems he may just add a few more to his tally in 2025.
The opportunity to reunite Tedesco with current five-eighth front runner and 'Teddy's' former teammate Mitchell Moses could be simply too good to pass up for Laurie Daley.
Tedesco's hard-nosed play style would blend in perfectly with Daley's game plan against the Maroons, as will his veteran presence in the Blues' young locker room.
The majority of the players in this NSW squad looked up to Teddy growing up, so to have his voice shouting behind the defensive line may be just what this fresh squad needs to buck up against Billy Slater's Queensland squad.
While choosing Tedesco could be a risky move for the Blues' future, the goal is to win right now, and who better than the most in-form fullback of the last decade?
In Tedesco's 23 matches for the Blues, he has averaged 212 metres a game, scored 8 tries, 14 try assists, 17 linebreaks, and a 77% tackle efficiency.
