Laurie Daley will name his NSW Blues team for Game 1 of the State of Origin series at 7.30am on Monday, with the fullback position shaping as the key call in the state of origin team list 2026 discussion. James Tedesco and Dylan Edwards have both been in fine form to start the year, but Daley has already confirmed only one of them will be chosen in the starting side.
The selection leaves NSW with a straight contest between two proven fullbacks, and the final call will land when Daley fronts up on Monday morning. He could still include the other player on the extended bench as cover, which would keep both men in the frame for Game 1 even if only one starts.
That is what makes this selection watch different from the usual preseason noise. The Blues are not just naming a team; they are settling the most important position in a side built to open an Origin series, and they are doing it while Queensland’s own team planning continues in the background. For NSW, the decision on Tedesco or Edwards will set the tone for the rest of the squad.
The tension is simple. Daley has two players in form, one spot to fill and one bench plan that could soften the blow for the man left out. If he does go that route, it would suggest NSW want insurance as much as certainty for Game 1, and Monday’s announcement will show whether he backs a clear starter or keeps the door open.
