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Blues coach Michael Maguire said Dylan Edwards’ performance in Penrith’s 42-0 hammering of the Sharks on Saturday cemented his spot in the NSW No.1 jersey instead of axed skipper James Tedesco.
Maguire addressed the media on Monday for the first time since naming his State of Origin team, and spoke about the fitness of halfback Nicho Hynes, naming six debutants, and the decision to drop Tedesco.
“I was there at the game the other night, and there was a ball kicked down [field]. He [Edwards] was on one side of the field, and that [kick] could have been a 40-20, and he just sprinted to the other side of the field, and that effort that I saw from him, and then from saving the 40-20, he then takes the second carry,” Maguire said.
“They [Penrith] get down the other end of the field and put the opposition under the pump. To me, that really solidified my thoughts around, ‘This is where we go’.”
Maguire said he would keep the details of his selection conversation with Tedesco to himself, but his “gut” told him Edwards was the right call.
“He’s [Tedesco] a champion of the game and playing some good footy, so it was a big decision,” Maguire said.
“He’s a player that’s been playing at the highest level. He’s played in four grand finals, we all know his stats, and he’s won three and I think he’s probably one of the most consistent players I’ve seen for a long, long time, over a long period of time … I just felt from my gut it was the right time to give Dylan the opportunity to play, and I’m really happy and confident that he’s going to come in and do really well.”
Nicho Hynes failed to finish the game on Saturday night after carrying a calf injury into the match, but Maguire said he was confident the Sharks halfback would be fit to play in Origin I.
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