Wests Tigers fullback James Tedesco has performed a stunning backflip, reneging on his big-money deal with the Canberra Raiders.
With the ink still wet on the contract he signed just over a week ago, Tedesco informed Tigers chief executive Grant Mayer on Wednesday night that he would prefer to stay at the club.
While the news will be warmly welcomed at the Tigers, the Raiders are obviously less than impressed.
Canberra chief executive Don Furner, when asked if Tedesco had pulled out of the arrangement, replied: “Yes and we are bitterly disappointed at the way it was handled.”
It capped a horror week for the Raiders, who have quickly become the spurned lovers of the NRL, with their advances on Bulldogs hooker Michael Ennis, Panthers winger Josh Mansour and Storm forward Kevin Proctor all rejected over the last week or so.
The rebuilding project under Ricky Stuart is struggling to even get underway, with players so reluctant to play for the Raiders.
Tedesco’s decision raises a number of intriguing questions.
What’s changed in the last week or so that Tedesco hadn’t considered during the negotiations? Is Stuart able to attract quality talent? Is Stuart’s coaching record over the last four years sounding alarm bells for potential recruits? Are NRL contracts worth the paper they’re written on?
Tedesco will rightfully cop a lot of flak. Though we all have the right to change our minds – one Roarer has erroneously and humorously accused me of it a number of times recently – it’s unprofessional to give your word, sign a contract, and then not honour it.
Tedesco had plenty of time to weigh up the offer and decide what it was he truly wanted to do, and he chose to sign with the Raiders for big money. He even said all the right things upon agreeing to the contract.
“Coming down there as a marquee player and someone Ricky expects a lot of, it’s definitely going to be a lot of pressure to perform week to week,” Tedesco said.
“I love watching Milford, he’s a freak. They’re big shoes to fill, but we play similar attacking footy and hopefully I can live up to his standards.”
Those words obviously ring very hollow now.
Tedesco shouldn’t worry too much about the heat that will come his way. The media storm will blow over in a few days, and his only concern will be a chorus of boos whenever he travels to Canberra, which will subside after a season or two anyway.
He’s young player who clearly wasn’t comfortable with his decision, and has sought to rectify it. It many respects, that’s admirable.
You could argue that someone needs to teach him about the basic premise of a contract, but when you consider all the recent NRL contract fiascos is it any wonder that players don’t treat them with any respect?
As for the Raiders, they should console themselves with the knowledge they dodged a bullet. On many levels.
Firstly, and most obviously, no one wants a player on their roster who doesn’t really want to be there. Such individuals are bad for morale, and tend not to perform on the park.
Secondly, Tedesco isn’t worth the money they were going to pay him. When Tedesco was testing his worth on the market, some of the figures being cast around were astonishing. It was reported that the Raiders eventually won the bidding war with a $1.9 million contract over three years.
$633,000 a year for James Tedesco? That’s what I call paying overs.
The young fullback has only played 25 first grade games, and though he has shown an abundance of talent, staying healthy has been a major concern. He has a lot of potential, but $1.9 million is a lot of money to pay for the dreaded ‘P’ word, especially for a player who has missed a lot of games to injury.
Canberra are in the unenviable position of being an undesirable destination, which means they need to offer more money than players are worth.
However, opening up the chequebook to a player who doesn’t want to be at the club, has yet to play a full season of first-grade football, and has a history with injuries, is a major risk. Though the Raiders will be disappointed they didn’t get their man, it may be a blessing in disguise for the Green Machine.
That will be of little consolation to the Raiders and their fans today, as it’s back to the drawing board for their 2015 rebuilding plans. Unfortunately for Ricky Stuart and the club, there isn’t a great deal of talent left unsigned for next season.
Planko
Guest
I think the raiders got lucky they need a decent halves , centres and forward with some mongrel ... Watmough is unhappy ? Apparently ? Tedesco is injury prone and Canberra went well last season with Reece Robinson at full back when bogan Dugan went.
Andrew
Guest
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2ebyH6G53Jo Just watched this on YouTube about Ricky's response to today's backflip. Bloody funny.
Tigered
Guest
It was the Mansour decision to stay at penrith with his mates for less money that swayed tedesco to stay. He should have stayed last week and not wait for Mansour to do the hard work. Anyway if the tigers won a comp in the next few years it will be all worth it on the end. Tigers roar
Jono
Guest
Well played by Tedesco and his management. He clearly didn't want to go, but they saw a (risky) opportunity to bump up his salary and they took it. Rightly put, he'll cop a bit of flank from people he doesn't care about, but his standing with those that matter to him, Wests and their fans, will jump thanks to his show of "loyalty".
The Barry
Guest
Will, I think tedesco staying with the tigers is better for the game and for him, but this constant contractual backflipping is a bad look for the game.
The Barry
Guest
He might be getting less but the tigers could still have upped their offer. I don't know what other explanation has someone signing a huge contract a few weeks out from the deadline and then backflipping within a week. "But I want to play with my mates" don't tell me he didn't consider that in the months of negotiation and then made up his mind in a week.
mushi
Guest
Does this put to bed the lies by the tigers CEO about getting no benefit out of developing juniors?
mushi
Guest
I think you'll find that players would only do the back flip is they have an offer from the existing club.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Ricky looks good with a mow! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ebyH6G53Jo
Obelisjk
Guest
This has all been said but when is a contract a contract and will the big clubs keep on using the small ones as a testing ground to see how far their players will test their loyalty before magically finding more money. Salary cap auditor - please take note - BTW is retired Ian schubert going to write a book....
Judge Holden
Roar Guru
Not the best "Hitler Reacts to X" video I've seen but it's not bad work. I don't know who would be disliked more in the nations capital at the moment. Both share similar traits. They are notorious despots ruling over once glorious regimes that have since crumbled into the ground.
B A
Guest
Yeah Moltzen/Tigers saga was not pretty but Dragons must be delighted with ex Tigers marquee superstar Benchy.
Chop
Roar Guru
Check this out, it's brilliant.... http://youtu.be/2ebyH6G53Jo
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
I am going to be fascinated to see what comes out of this intriguing circus. Will we get the correct answers to: * Did Ricky report Anthony Milford to the NRL Integrity Commission when we chose Brisbane over Canberra? * Did this piss off Sam Ayoub who managers both Milford and Tedesco? * Did Sam find a 3rd party for Teddy so he could stay at Wests Tigers as retribution? I guess we will have to read Sam's favourite journo Josh Mashoud to find out.
cheech
Guest
These players are initially attracted to the big dollars then they wake up in cold sweat and realize that Ricky Stuart will be there coach for the next 3 yrs and they pull out.Can't blame them.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
The Raiders need to break the bank and bring in Bellamy, Bennett or Sheens. They need a big name coach to attract talent. Interestingly the three aforementioned guys are all intertwined in some way at the Raiders.
Robz
Guest
However the clubs need to take a stronger stand as well. Just because a player backflips on a contract does not mean the club he was going to walk out on is obligated to keep him. Although they all seem to, which to me is strange. If I were the CEO I'd be saying to the player - well you said you were leaving, now you want out of the contract you signed, too bad, we've made plans for life without you. That would stop players using it as a means to pressure for an increased contract and would really make them think harder about the contract with new club before they signed it.
Parrafan
Guest
Agree with you Chop. We definitely needed to sweep some of our players, but over head projector wasn't the way to do it. Apparently Tedesco, informed RS of his decision to stay at the Tigers by way of overhead projector showcasing 10 teams he would rather play for other than canberra. For Furner to come out and say he didn't like the way it was handled is the height of hypocrisy. He and the Raiders really put the heat on Milford to stay at Canberra, just as they did with Papalii last year.
Robz
Guest
That would be an OK theory if Tedesco wasn't going to be getting less from the Tigers
Mango Jack
Guest
Are you suggesting the NRL pressured Tedesco into reneging just because the Tigers threatened not to develop juniors aymore? Or that they paid Tedesco additional money to stay witht he Tigers? Neither seems plausible.