Laurie Daley will reveal his NSW Blues team for Game 1 of the State of Origin series on Monday morning, with the announcement set for 7.30am. The call will end days of speculation around the side and, in particular, the fullback jersey.
James Tedesco and Dylan Edwards have both started the year in fine form, but Daley has already confirmed only one of them will be named in the starting team. The other could still be included on the extended bench as cover, leaving room for a late safety net if needed.
The selection has become the key talking point ahead of the nsw blues team list 2026 moment because it narrows the issue to one position, even though both players have made strong early claims. Daley’s decision will show whether he wants to back one full-time starter or keep the second option close in reserve for Game 1.
That is what gives Monday morning its weight. A fullback call at Origin level is rarely just about one player; it shapes the balance of the entire team, and Daley has now made clear there will be no room for both in the starting side. The extended bench remains the only possible route for the one left out, depending on how the final list is constructed.
For NSW, the timing matters because the team will be named at 7.30am on Monday, bringing the first concrete answer to a selection debate that has dominated the build-up. Fans and analysts will not have to wait long once the week begins, and the reaction will follow quickly once the side is public.
The tension is simple: Tedesco and Edwards have both done enough early in the season to stay in the frame, but Daley can only pick one to start. That leaves the NSW camp with a choice that is as much about shape and trust as it is about form, and it will now be settled at the start of the week.
said it would cover the team when it drops, but the selection itself is what will drive the story. Once Daley speaks on Monday morning, the debate will move from who should be picked to whether NSW has landed on the right fullback for Game 1.
