James Tedesco is the man to fill Billy Slater’s shoes as Australian fullback, as well as reignite the Kangaroos’ flagging attacking game at the same time.
He runs like a wounded rabbit but has the finishing skills that few can match. Quick, elusive, with footwork and an x-factor that none of his fellow young competitors have, Tedesco is ready to step up into Test football. Five tries in his last two games have signalled his form, if last year didn’t yell his case loud enough.
Now in his fifth year in the NRL, Tedesco also played Tests for Italy at the 2013 World Cup, but has signalled his intention to play State of Origin and ultimately for Australia this year.
Quite frankly, he has the all-round skills that would enhance a Kangaroos team that have lacked some spark in their back-line of late. Combining his pace, step and defensive ability together is a great package, but his support play and match awareness is even better. He must be in the group for the Anzac Test.
All dominant Australia sides have had a number of attacking options, with their fullbacks able to play as third or fourth playmakers. Going as far back as Clive Churchill in the 1950s, Keith Barnes and Graeme Langlands in the ‘60s and ’70s, through to Tim Brasher, Darren Lockyer and Slater in recent times, the Kiwis, Lions and France have often stood with hands on hips after devastating attacking raids.
But for a team renowned for scoring tries like the ease of a Kerrod Holland conversion, the Australians have been uncharacteristically muzzled in recent times. In their last five Tests against New Zealand, England and Samoa, the Kangaroos have scored 20 points a game. This dips to just 14 per match if you take away the 44 points against Samoa. More like joeys than quick and bouncy marsupials.
Slater’s brilliance has been his ability to chime in as second or third receiver, able to throw a perfectly timed pass, or back his slip-inducing pace, slicing his way through dumb-founded defences. Tedesco brings these qualities.
Also, like Slater, the young Tigers fullback has shown great mental strength to come through serious injuries early in his career. In his first game in a Tigers jumper, Tedesco suffered a season-ending knee injury. Two years later, he fractured his patella and missed most of the season, all before he was 22. It is with some irony that another Slater injury might be enough to thrust the younger man into his Test jumper.
Greg Inglis is the incumbent fullback but must shift to his best international position – centre – where he can use his size, strength and experience to create space for his speedier contemporaries out wide. With big matches decided by defence, Inglis is a beacon of dependability and experience in this crucial role.
He has been used as the Test fullback but has not been the great success many tipped him to be. Leave him where he thrives. His in-goal blunder last year in Brisbane was a tired play (potential injuries withstanding).
Finally, if Mal Meninga was even slightly into succession planning, he would also take Matt Moylan with him away with the Four Nations squad, providing the young Panther recovers sufficiently from injury to play enough football. Named as Penrith captain this year, as well as part of the emerging New South Wales squad, he has great talent and an even bigger future. It just makes sense to take him.
Meninga has enough wingers and centres to fill the NRL video replay bunker, but few genuine fullbacks. Forget waiting until State of Origin. Tedesco should be the man to step into Slater’s jockey-sized Kangaroo shoes come May.
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