Queenslanders keep telling us New South Welshmen that we don’t get State of Origin.

Try selling that bullshit to James Tedesco.

Here’s a bloke — at 33 years of age — who could have easily hung up the rep boots and watched Origin on the box like the rest of us.

After all, he’s played 23 Origins, captained the side, been in series-winning teams and collected the Wally Lewis Medal.

Having missed selection last year — and with the Panthers’ Dylan Edwards in such great form — Teddy could have been forgiven for thinking his time was up.

But no.

No one was going to tell him it was over and on Wednesday week he will run out for the Blues in front of a sold-out Accor Stadium crowd.

If Tedesco’s hunger and desire to return to the Origin arena, when many had given up on him, doesn’t tell those dopey Queenslanders what playing for NSW means to us, then nothing will.

It was a brave call by Laurie Daley but the right one.

I like the look of this Blues squad.

The addition of speed machines Casey McLean and Tolu Koula is a bold and positive move, while Addin Fonua-Blake and Victor Radley are welcome selections after the changes in the eligibility process.

Those two are the type of Origin hard arses you need, especially when the dirty Maroons employ those sneaky tactics of theirs to get under our skin.

It was also a brave call — but the correct one again — by Billy Slater to leave Reece Walsh out of the Maroons line up.

I love this kid but he looked underdone against the Warriors in Magic Round, turning in a complete shocker.

But he’s too good a player to sit out all three games and I fear, as a NSW supporter, he will bob up later in the series.

Crazy.

That’s the first word that sprung to mind when I heard Slater was considering playing Kalyn Ponga at halfback in Origin 1.

As good as he is, the Newcastle superstar is not a No.7 and starting him there would have been among the biggest gambles Slater has made.

As a New South Welshman, I hoped it was true because it was a key area the Blues could have possibly exploited.

But, as it turns out, it was all media speculation — maybe thrown out there by Billy himself — and the Roosters’ Sam Walker will instead make his debut in the prized No.7 jumper while Ponga will scare the life out of the Blues in a rightful position of fullback.

Walker has been destined to play Origin ever since he strapped on a pair of boots but the comparisons with Alfie Langer are a bit premature.

Young Sam has all the tricks of the trade but the step up in class — before a hostile Sydney crowd on Wednesday week — will test him like no other.

He will also be up against the best in Nathan Cleary, although Cleary is the first to admit his Origin record could be a lot better.

Maybe this is the year he fully delivers.

Mrs Spudd reckons she knows when Origin is just around the corner because she senses an extra spring in my step and captures me throwing more shadow punches at the mirror than usual.

I loved my time watching it as a young fella, I loved my time playing in it and now I love my time commenting on it.

The worst part is there is still nine more sleeps to go before it erupts!

Bring it on.

AND DON’T GET ME STARTED

He didn’t shout it out loud as he announced he’d be leaving Penrith next year but the message from Ivan Cleary was crystal clear.

He wants to coach rep footy and that means testing himself in the toughest arena of the lot — State of Origin.

I’ve noticed Ivan around Origin dressing rooms over the years — wearing his parent hat supporting Nathan — and you just know that mind of his is ticking over.

He sees the game better than just about anyone and know the players — both NSW and Queensland — inside out after years of either coaching them or studying them as opposition players.

Heck, half the Blues team is usually made up of Panthers or ex-Panthers.

So here’s what I’m thinking.

Naturally I’m backing NSW to win back the Origin crown this year under Laurie Daley so I’m not expecting or calling for a change of head coach right now.

But from next year, why not elevate Ivan into the chief adviser role left vacant by Craig Bellamy with a view to him one day becoming the fulltime coach?

I know he’ll still be involved with the Panthers next year but Bellamy successfully juggled the demands of both last year and Ivan will as well.

This is too valuable an opportunity for NSW to let slip.

After all, how often does a four-time premiership winner lob at your doorstep basically asking to be invited in?

Even Laurie thinks it’s good idea.

“You would be mad if you didn’t have a conversation with Ivan Cleary — it’s just common sense,” he told his radio audience.

“Your due diligence says if Ivan was available, you would go and get him to be part of your organisation.”

“When you have a great coach, you at least have to make the phone call.”

Exactly.