Cameron Smith has been left torn between who to back for this afternoons game after learning Roosters fullback James Tedesco has been recalled into the Blues squad.
Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards, who was set to make his Origin debut at the expense of the former Blues captain, was ruled out of the series opener after suffering from quad tightness.
With the Cowboys missing six players due to representative duties and Joey Manu pushed back to fullback, Smith has come to a decision on who will win this afternoon.
“Well look I had the Chooks before the news this morning – with Teddy leaving their squad and going up to join the Blues,” Smith said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“Look the Cowboys, they’re an exciting team to watch. They can score plenty of points, but at the moment they’re struggling with their defence.
James Tedesco of the Blues. Getty
“They’re conceding a lot and they’ve lost a fair few players. They’ve got six out, five representing Queensland and Reece Robson of course in with the Blues. [That’s] six of their main men.
“It’d be a really big challenge for them to come down to Sydney this afternoon and beat the Chooks, who I think have been in really good form, and look, you lose Teddy, put Joey Manu back to fullback.
“He’s a world class fullback as well. So I think chooks today.”