New South Wales Blues full-back James Tedesco was cleared for the home state’s first game on Wednesday night.
Tedesco had doubts about the start of the series after sustaining a knee injury during the Sydney Roosters semi-final defeat by the Canberra Raiders.
However, after a fitness test on Saturday morning, the 27-year-old confirmed that he had received the green light despite his heavily buckled left knee.
“It’s not 100 percent cured, but the strength is pretty good,” Tedesco told reporters on the Central Coast.
“I had to get through most of this session. I made contact … I got through that pretty well. I also got a couple of beats. I got through everything well.
“I didn’t reach top speed.”
With Tedesco wearing the # 1 jersey for the blues, Clinton Gutherson will make his Origin debut at the centers.
Although Gutherson excelled as a full-back for the Parramatta Eels, he is not impressed with the change in position.
“We have a lot of good players on this team who will really help,” Gutherson told Triple M on Saturday.
“I have (Josh Addo-Carr) outside of me, so we have a bit of pace there.
“It’s great for the team that Teddy was given up to play because he went out of his way to put himself in that position, and it’s a huge boost for us.
“I can’t wait to come out and play with him.”
Tedesco was named a Brad Fittler medalist last year and awarded to the best blues player on the State of Origin series.
Several NSW defenders fell victim to the injury curse ahead of the highly anticipated clash in Adelaide Oval on Wednesday. Clive Churchill Medal winner Ryan Papenhuyzen has missed a potential Origin debut after injuring his calf at the NRL Grand Final last weekend.
Meanwhile, Manly Sea Eagles full-back Tom Trbojevic has been banned from the series with a shoulder injury.
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