‘Plenty of footy ahead of me’: Tedesco focused on future, not (half) a year to forget

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Even when his world must have felt like it was caving in, around Origin time, when his beloved Blues and Roosters were spluttering – and some cranky fans and commentators were convinced his representative days were numbered – James Tedesco did not once doubt his own ability.

“Never, but it was definitely hard to stay confident,” Tedesco tells this masthead.

“I’ve gone through many highs and successful years where everything works for you.

“Life is good when you’re winning. When you’re not, you have to dig deep, keep working hard, and not let the naysayers get to you.

“I always want to play my best game every game, every year. Sometimes it simply doesn’t happen.”

Tedesco will lead Australia in the Pacific Championships final against New Zealand on Saturday afternoon.

James Tedesco will lead Australia out for the Pacific Championships final on Saturday afternoon.Credit: Getty Images

Hamilton will be rocking, and for Tedesco a Kangaroos win will be an excellent finish to a season that only really kicked into gear for the final third of the campaign. He is proud to wear the green and gold and lead his mates into battle, but stops short of rating the year a success.

“It’s certainly been a good back half to the year, and a win as Australian captain would top it off,” Tedesco said. “But it’s not a successful year when you don’t win Origin or make it to a grand final with the Roosters.

“It’s been a great learning curve for me as a player and as a leader, and I’m already looking forward to 2024.

“I know in myself I’ve got plenty of good footy ahead of me.”

Two Kings: Maori King Tuheitia Paki meets Kangaroos counterpart James Tedesco on Thursday

Tedesco received plenty of messages of support during the Origin period. He was well down on his lofty standards.

He turned to Joe Wehbe, his good friend, manager and mind coach, like he does every week.

He appreciated private talks with Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns, two greats of the game who pointed out how they had experienced form slumps at least once in their careers.

Origin III was the start of the official comeback. The seeds, however, Tedesco says, were probably planted a couple of weeks earlier at a team meeting inside Allianz Stadium after a loss to the Raiders in round 17.

“It was after that Canberra loss we spoke about no longer worrying about expectations, and how we didn’t have much to lose,” Tedesco said.

“We needed to get back to backing ourselves, playing freer and just enjoying our footy. It was a big turning point for us.”

Australian coach Mal Meninga is a proud Queenslander, but was never tempted to dump his captain and fullback from south of the border.

He could have gone with Maroons upstart Reece Walsh, or Dally M Medal winner Kalyn Ponga, but stuck solid with his World Cup winner.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys said at the team announcement there was unanimous support to retain Tedesco.

James Tedesco during the Origin I loss in AdelaideCredit: NRL Photos

Aware of Walsh’s popularity, V’landys told this masthead the 21-year-old may have been the “Justin Bieber of rugby league”, but Tedesco was “the Ed Sheeran of rugby league, because he’s someone who also packs stadiums”.

Meninga could see Tedesco working hard when the Roosters were not getting the results, and there was one area that separated him from the rest of the fullback pack.

“Defensively he is outstanding, the way he organises the defensive line is spot on – you see all the flashy stuff, but you don’t see the work he does adjusting numbers; he’s very good at that,” Meninga said on Friday.

When told Tedesco still considered his season to be unsuccessful, Meninga added: “He’s a competitor. That’s what you like about him. I understand that statement. Players want to be successful and play in wining teams, that didn’t happen for him this year, so he probably feels a little bit unfulfilled.”

Peter V’landys has hailed James Tedesco the “Ed Sheeran of rugby league”.Credit: Steven Siewert/SMH

Since Billy Slater retired in 2018, Tedesco has continued to swat away competition for his spot, which has never been stronger.

He is aware of the talent coming through, which was there when he started out, but is now at a stage where most clubs have two or three genuine top-tier No. 1s in their line-up.

The Roosters have Joey Manu and Joseph Suaalii. We will come back to Manu.

The depth across the game might explain why Tedesco is being asked more and more when he will step away from the representative arena. For the record, he is only 30, and has another four or five years on top. Italians have good genes.

“Every club seems to have a superstar fullback,” he says.

“But I don’t really look to other guys for motivation. I’ve always been able to motivate myself to be at my best. I know what my best looks like. I’ve been at it for the past few years.

“I know this year I wasn’t at my best the whole time, but I never try to be anyone else – I never try to be a Reece Walsh or a KP because we all play the game our own way – and I try to stay true to myself and get better.

“Being the captain the last couple of years, I’ve also tried to be the best leader I can be as well, instead of just the best fullback.”

Tedesco met Maori King Tūheitia Paki on Thursday. He was blown away by the experience, and how much love and pride there is with New Zealand Indigenous culture.

Joey Manu will be one of the star attractions for the Kiwis in Hamilton on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images

The real king at Hamilton, however, will be Manu, who grew up just down the road at Tokoroa.

Manu is off contract and already attracting big-money interest from St George Illawarra for the 2025 season.

The Roosters cannot keep them all. Tedesco, himself off contract at the end of 2025, is aware the club will do well to keep the centre who wants to be a fullback.

Tedesco has even floated the idea on more than one occasion with coach Trent Robinson about shifting positions to accommodate Manu.

“I’ve said to ‘Robbo’ over the years I’m happy if he wants me to move positions, but I think Robbo only sees me as a fullback,” Robinson said.

“I love Joey. I know there have been rumours about clubs throwing big money at him, which is no surprise because he’s such a quality player.

“Every team would love to have him. I hope we do everything we can to keep him because he’s been a big part of the club and our success since he came over as a young pup.”

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