'Saturday will be the big test': Tedesco's push to be fit for Origin I
James Tedesco says he will get a fair idea if his left knee will be ready for the rigours of Origin I after NSW's main field session on Saturday.
Tedesco had his left knee heavily strapped and was restricted to some straight-line running on a murky Tuesday morning training session on the Central Coast.
Dally M runner-up Clint Gutherson and Clive Churchill Medallist Ryan Papenhuyzen are ready to go for the Origin opener in eight days time in Adelaide should Tedesco miss out, but the gun No.1 is confident there will be no issues.
"I just had to get it moving today with straight-line running, and it felt really stable and strong,'' Tedesco said.
"On Thursday there will be more volume and getting the legs ticking over at a higher pace and longer distance. Then Saturday will be getting into the team stuff, lateral movement and side stepping. So I'd say Saturday will be the big test. I'm feeling good in my head and I'm confident.''
James Tedesco was on restricted duties at NSW Blues training on Tuesday.Credit:NSWRL
Tedesco suffered a grade-two medial ligament strain in his ''bad knee'' 18 days ago during the Roosters' semi-final loss to Canberra.
He stayed back in Sydney last week to be treated by his good friend and top massage therapist Anthony Carbone and Roosters physio Ros Craig.
The big debate will be who replaces Tedesco if he is put on ice and saved for game two the following week in Sydney.
Gutherson plays fullback for Parramatta and would easily do a job in the custodian role, which would allow Fittler to use Zac Lomax at right centre.
But should Gutherson be used in the centres, Papenhuyzen will get his shot - and good judges have already backed him to handle the game's biggest stage.
Papenhuyzen and the six other Storm and Penrith players involved in the NRL grand final will take part in their first Blues training session on Thursday.
Earlier on Tuesday, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo confirmed Ampol had come on board as the naming rights partner for the Origin series until 2023.
Christian covers rugby league for The Sydney Morning Herald.