Daly Cherry-Evans fears James Tedesco will pose an even greater threat to Queensland if recalled by NSW – and it has nothing to do with what he is doing on the field.
Cherry-Evans, now back in the Queensland Origin picture following Tom Dearden’s ankle injury over the weekend, knows that time away from the interstate series provides the hunger to prove that you should never have lost your spot in the first place.
And that is the predicament facing Tedesco, who has not played for NSW since game one of the 2024 series.
Tedesco, 33, is in a shootout for the fullback spot with incumbent Dylan Edwards. Both players are in excellent form and have time to prove to coach Laurie Daley that they deserve the first shot at representing NSW in the May 27 series opener.
Following his Origin omission two years ago, Tedesco won last year’s Dally M Medal and has started this season in irresistible form.
Cherry-Evans spent three years in Origin exile before he was recalled by Queensland, and quickly went about making the most of his second chance.
He knows Tedesco will do likewise if given the chance to repay any faith shown by Daley and the selectors when the teams are named next Monday – and suggests that motivation gives him a mental edge over Edwards.
“There’s always a level of hunger for the players who play rep footy; once you get a taste of it, you understand how great it is,” Cherry-Evans told this masthead.
“It makes you a better player, it challenges you. They are the things you want as a footy player.
“My break from Origin was three years. It was a long time, I had a lot of time to work on my game and prove to selectors and coaches I was good enough to get back in there.
“I’m sure James Tedesco has got the same level of hunger, if not more.
“I haven’t spoken to him about it, but from afar, you can probably tell [how hungry he is]. If you want it bad enough, you work hard enough for it.
“It’s not the focus point, but it was certainly motivation at times throughout my career – I had motivation through my career to get back into that Queensland side.
“I really value it. I’m sure Ted is using that [as motivation] right now.”
Good judges are split on who should be picked. Andrew Johns is in Tedesco’s corner, while his brother, Matt, is an Edwards fan, in part due to his Penrith combination with Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson said of Tedesco after Friday’s win over the Gold Coast Titans: “He plays a lot on his feeling – he plays in the moment more than any other player I’ve seen. His scanning of a line and what’s needed in that moment is as good as I’ve seen.”
Meanwhile, the weekend ankle injury suffered by Tom Dearden means Queensland is suddenly in need of a halfback. Cherry-Evans and Roosters teammate Sam Walker are among the leading candidates.
Like Tedesco, Cherry-Evans is closer to the end of his career than the start, but still playing a top-quality brand of football.
“If you ask anyone playing in the NRL over 30, it’s [age] just a number,” Cherry-Evans said.
“If Ted wasn’t my teammate, I’d feel a bit different about [a NSW recall]. But I’ve always been the same when it comes to teammates playing Origin; if they’re good enough and they get picked, I’m really happy for them because I know what that does for our team at the back end of the year with club footy.”
Both Origin teams will be picked next Sunday night and announced on Monday after the completion of Magic Round.
