‘Teddy will bring experience at fullback’: Joey backs Tedesco call-up 05:42

Let's bring in Andrew Johns for a preview of the footy. You'll see it live and free on Nine. We'll have it covered for you on the continuous call team. Hello, Joey. Hello. Mate, Allianz Stadium today. Roosters taking on North Queensland. The big story, though, James Tedesco called into New South Wales camp. No Dylan Edwards. Yeah, feel for Dylan Edwards. I think everyone was happy to see him there.

But Teddy will come in and he'll bring that experience. 22 origins. I went through the spine last night doing some homework for my award-winning column. Yes, he started laughing. What award did it win? What award did it win? It won an ARIA. Oh. And...

And, yes, I do it in crayon. But I went through their spine, Queensland, and their jersey 14, and they had 71 games experienced between all of them. New South Wales had 10. Wow. Yeah, so...

Teddy will bring that experience there at fullback, which is needed. Is that what you're worried about, Joey? Well, all new combinations. It's so important, combinations, because out in the Fylde and Origins, it's time when you're that knackered. You can't talk. So you just go back onto habits and...

And what players do, and the more time you spend on the training paddock, but especially out in the field, you know those habits. As far as the Blues go, the benefit this year for us is first game Sydney, second game Melbourne. Freddie was telling me the other night our record in Melbourne's pretty good. I wouldn't even know that. Your game one's so important. And I reckon the weather has helped. Hopefully it's a bit slippery out there. I like the forward pack. I like the back five.

And I think the bench is really strong. So I think New South Wales have showed their hand with the players that they've picked. It's going to be a power game. And they're going to back a team who can really be physical. Joey, you said you like the forward pack and the back five, the halves. Well, I'm worried about the inexperienced. They haven't played together at all, Nico and Jerome. I was worried about Nico...

But I spoke to Luke Keery downstairs. He said he's been training. He said he's been running and there's no drama there. He said in his head he's ready to go, which is good because the mail coming out was he hasn't trained. He'd warm up with the team and then he would go off and rehab in the gym. So...

Experience is so important at that level and combinations, but if it's a basic game plan of power through the middle, then Nico's job is to kick and kick well. Well, he's done that pretty well for Cronulla, hasn't he? Yeah. He has done that, but I suppose the lingering doubt is the last game he played when he had the calf issue and he kicked out in the full twice and whatever. But, I mean...

He's playing in the right spot now. Mate, what do you think about the selection from a Queensland perspective? You might not care. Tom Dearden ahead of Ezra Mame. Would you have had a... No, I would have had Dearden. I think...

One thing about Dearden is he's done the job before. And you have a look at Coinsley and they have that dummy half focal point of attack with Ben Hunt and Harry Grant. And then you've got Daly working together with Reece Walsh. You just need a 5'8". He'll run the ball and tackle hard and, you know, just be really aggressive. And that's what he'll do. And he hasn't let Billy down in the past. I thought he was outstanding. Was it two years ago he came in for game three? Yeah. He was sensational. Sorry, I just want to ask you one more. Yeah, right. Oh.

I'm an unabashed Reece Walsh fan. I love watching Reece Walsh because I think he's far more than just the pretty boy and the speed and the whole thing. He's got everything. Are you in a similar vein? Yep. Love watching him play. And the knock on Reece is, oh, he makes errors. But who cares? That's the way he plays. I saw Jimmy Maloney. He was one. He used to make errors and wouldn't give a rat's. And that's with Reece Walsh. He's fast.

He's a gambler. He tries things. He rolls the dice. If he sees them, he backs himself. And they're the players you want in big games. And when the game's on the line, he's like, give me the ball. I'm going to win it. So I love watching him play, especially when he scores first try scorer. $6, don't you? I took Mrs. out for a birthday. I took her to the pub. Good luck.

And at 100 on him first try score, he had $11. You can't go right back and win it. So I took half of it and gave her half. Happy birthday. Was the missus happy about the pub for dinner? Yeah.

She doesn't drink. Kind bloke. What about this afternoon here at Allianz Roosters Cowboys? How do you see this one panning in? I think Roosters win and win well. I think we had 100 mil in the eastern suburbs yesterday. I went down on the field. It is fairly dry. It's a fast track.

I reckon there's going to be a stack of points scored, but I think with Sam Walker pulling the trigger, their attack's going to be too slick. Fantastic. And congratulations on your win Friday night with the three songs too on your arm. Oh, yes. Well, I had to choose. He's a music lover, the Jays. Is he? What were the songs? What were the songs? I can't remember. Belinda Carlyle. Land Down Under was the last one. Yep. Crowded House, the first one. And then Belinda Carlyle.

Carlisle. She was on my wall. Hang on. She was a bomb back in the day. I think things have gone to seed later in life. I think she partied pretty hard. She was my sort of girl. Was she on your wall from her go-go's years or her solo years? All. All years? Yeah.

Remember when she had, like, a bit of the ginger hair? Yeah. But she's... She had major problems with cocaine and all sorts of issues. My sort of girl. As you all admit. Rightio. Yep. Thank you, Joey. Wow. See you later. See you later. Our listeners are all over 70. They'd love that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. She was Michael Hutchins' girlfriend at some stage. There you are. Anyway. There he is, the eighth immortal Andrew Johns.