Veteran journalist Phil Rothfield has questioned Maroons legend Gorden Tallis over comments Tallis made regarding James Tedesco, who has been recalled into the Blues side for Game I after an injury to Dylan Edwards.
Tedesco entered the year as the incumbent Blues fullback and captain, but was dropped for Game I by NSW coach Michael Maguire, who slightly favoured Edwards ahead of the Roosters star.
Tallis told The Daily Telegraph that he would feel “embarrassed” if he was dropped and then recalled to the team, like Tedesco was.
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“Teddy would be a bit uncomfortable,” Tallis said.
Rothfield asked Tallis on NRL360 why he had that point of view.
“I was very surprised by your comments yesterday that you’d be embarrassed to be recalled. Turn it up,” Rothfield said.
“But that’s just me Buzz. That’s my own feelings. I’ll put myself in those shoes if I got overlooked,” Tallis replied.
“I felt bad when I was injured hanging around the players. When I broke my neck in 2001 and Alf (Langer) came back in that third game, I actually felt embarrassed to be around the guys.
“That wasn’t about Tedesco, that was about if I got called back into camp with being overlooked and the captaincy taken off me, I would have a funny, guilty, embarrassing feeling.
“He’s not going to feel like he did when it’s his first jersey to getting this jersey back and that’s the point I’m trying to make.”
Former Blues star and NRL360 host Braith Anasta agreed with Tallis after his explanation, pointing to the personal experience of being dropped from a Blues team during his playing days.
“I understand what Gordie’s saying. Gordie is spot on,” Anasta said.
“This is just being honest, but you wouldn’t feel the same. If you get called back after being dropped, you were the second option.
“Listen, I have no doubt Teddy is going to have a great game and he only just missed out and he’s Blue through and through. I wouldn’t know if it’s embarrassment but it’d be a little bit of a bitter pill to swallow.
“We’ve both (Anasta and Tallis) played Origin and we’ve both been dropped so I know the feeling.”
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Rothfield still wasn’t having it though, believing it will make Tedesco hungrier than ever to keep his spot.
“Cannot disagree with you guys more,” he said.
“He wants to play now Game 2 and Game 3, he wants to remain the Australian captain for the end of the year and he wants to steer the Roosters around.
“You were sort of suggesting he’d be feeling awkward.
Rothfield and journalist Brent Read then debated whether Tedesco could have said no to Maguire when receiving the call up.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt he’d feel a little awkward when he first got into camp but once he’s in camp, he knows all those guys and played a lot of footy with him,” Read said.
“I think he’ll settle quickly into stride but I’m sure initially there was a little bit of discomfort there.”
“He could’ve said no but he wants to play,” Rothfield said, with Read replying: “How’s he going to say no. He didn’t want to retire from rep footy, he wants to play for Australia at the end of the year.
“Well that’s what I’m talking about. He’ll be fine,” Rothfield exclaimed.
While Tedesco is great cover for the Blues to turn to, it creates an interesting situation.
If Tedesco plays well on Wednesday and the Blues win, what will Maguire do for Game II?
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Read believes Maguire and the Blues should stick with their original pick no matter what happens in the opening game, however wondered if Edwards will recover from the quad injury in time.
“I don’t think Dylan Edwards will play before Game II so if that’s the case, I don’t think you can pick Dylan Edwards for Game II as there’s every chance he won’t be back before then,” Read said
“I think it’s a really difficult issue for them but I think you’ve gone down the path with Dylan. I think if Dylan’s fit and he gets a game in before Oirigin and plays well, you’ve got to go back to him.
Anasta then put to the panel a few hypotheticals that could happen in Game I and asked what the Blues should do regarding Tedesco and Edwards should they occur.
Anasta: What if they scrape it in, Teddy plays solid and NSW just get a win?
Read: I think you change it.
Anasta: You’d change a winning team?
Read: Yes.
Anasta: It’s going to be one or two things. It’s either he brains it and they win, because if they lose they’ll go back to Edwards, but I’m asking if Teddy kills it and NSW win, that’s one side. But if he just plays average and they win, what happens?
Rothfield: I’ll answer it. Hypothetically, if NSW win, we keep the same side.
Read: I think if you’ve made the decision to change it, I think you just press on. If you think Edwards is a better footballer, which clearly Madge does, then you make the change. Dylan’s in his best team according to Maguire.
