With just four weeks remaining until the New South Wales Blues name their starting 13 for the 2026 State of Origin opening clash, veteran fullback James Tedesco delivered a career-defining performance on Sunday that has thrown his name back into contention for the coveted number 1 jersey, powering the Sydney Roosters to a thrilling 38-24 comeback victory over the Newcastle Knights at Allianz Stadium.
The former NSW captain entered the weekend avoiding questions about his Origin selection hopes, but his masterclass on the pitch sent an unmistakable message to Blues coach Laurie Daley just when selection conversations are heating up. Against the Knights, Tedesco put up stat lines that rarely appear outside of video game simulations: 24 carries for 223 running metres, 17 broken tackles, one individual try, three try assists, and three line breaks. The standout, all-around performance ranks among the most impressive individual displays of the entire 2026 NRL season.
Tedesco’s standout showing comes at a pivotal moment, as Dylan Edwards has long been framed as the presumptive starter at fullback for the Blues. The last time Tedesco wore the NSW fullback jersey was 2024, when he stepped into the role after Edwards was sidelined by an injury. On Sunday, he proved he still has the speed, power, and playmaking ability to compete at the highest representative level, dominating the second half to flip the game on its head after the Roosters got off to a sluggish start.
His influence on the try sheet was undeniable: he threw the final pass for the Roosters’ opening four-pointer, put a pinpoint grubber kick through for winger Hugo Savala to score his first try of the afternoon, crashed through the Knights’ defensive line to score a try of his own, and flicked a deft offload to set up another score off a well-drilled scrum move. Throughout his representative career, Tedesco has never let the Blues down, leaving Daley with a difficult selection call that pits a proven veteran in red-hot form against the competition’s current favourite for the role.
While Tedesco stole the headlines, Newcastle young gun Fletcher Hunt turned in a breakout first-half performance that nearly secured a massive upset for the away side. Making his first start after recovering from a season-opening knee injury, the 22-year-old left centre scored a first-half hat-trick and pulled off two game-changing try-saving tackles to keep the Knights in the driver’s seat at halftime. Hunt crossed for his first try in the ninth minute, reeled in a spectacular airborne catch off a Dylan Brown kick to put the Knights up 12-6 midway through the half, then finished off a break from late inclusion Francis Manuleleua to complete his three-try opening 40. Late in the half, he came up with huge stops on both Mark Nawaqanitawase and Siua Wong to send Newcastle into the break with a 24-12 lead.
However, the Knights could not carry their momentum into the second half, barely registering an attacking opportunity as the Roosters seized complete control of the match. The result means Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook and key former Roosters players Sandon Smith and Dom Young missed out on a fairytale win over their old club.
For the Roosters, Hugo Savala also turned in a standout performance in his new role at left centre, a position he shifted to after the club signed star halfback Daly Cherry-Evans in the off-season, which had sparked widespread speculation about Savala’s future at the club. The towering playmaker proved he has settled comfortably into his new spot, scoring a try in each half. His first came off a Sam Walker kick that Daniel Tupou knocked back into his path for an easy walk-over score, and he proved far more than a stationary edge player, roaming across the pitch to create overlaps that kept the Knights’ defence scrambling all afternoon.