James Tedesco should be fast-tracked into the Australian team for the Test against New Zealand at Hunter Stadium on May 6.
He’s going to be the regular Australian fullback of the future anyway and he’s a great player now, so why wait?
Tedesco is all but certain to be the NSW fullback for the State of Origin series starting on June 1. He would have to get injured or his form go alarmingly backwards between now and then for that not to happen.
But he’s ready to play for his country before he even plays Origin and with Billy Slater gone for the year because of injury the No.1 jumper in the Australian team is up for grabs.
Greg Inglis shouldn’t be an automatic selection at fullback for Australia. If he was in great form it would be a different story, but he’s not. He’s going reasonably well.
Tedesco is genuinely going great and at 23 there is no point in holding him back. He is a classic running fullback who is currently putting on a show every week for Wests Tigers.
Unfortunately for the Tigers they aren’t winning often enough and have followed victories in the first two rounds with four straight defeats, but their record is not one bit Tedesco’s fault.
He is giving them everything they could want from a fullback to try to get them wins, but there are a few holes in the team in other positions and on top of that the Tigers are making way too many errors.
They were their own worst enemies in Sunday’s 18-16 loss to Newcastle and even after just six rounds their season is fast approaching a crossroads.
But back to the Test team and while Inglis is the South Sydney fullback and has filled in for an injured Slater before in the Australian team, he doesn’t have a mortgage on the position.
Because there is another great option in Tedesco available, Inglis should be picked for Australia in his old club position of centre.
It’s not like anyone has a mortgage on centre positions in the team at the moment. The last time Australia played in a Test, against New Zealand in Brisbane last May, Will Chambers and Michael Jennings were the centres. The Aussies lost, 26-12.
Inglis was fullback for that game and a return to the centres for him and a debut at fullback for Tedesco would strengthen the Australian team. The all-round attacking threat would be increased.
Don’t forget, the Kiwis have beaten the Aussies the last three times the two teams have met.
It’s not as if Australia don’t have a genuine need to look at possible ways of improving the team, particularly with a Four Nations tournament to be played against New Zealand, England and Scotland at the end of the season.
If you’re going to try a new player in a key position, then now is a good time.
Australian coach Mal Meninga, who will take the team for the first time in next month’s Test, has stated his preference for seeing how players perform at Origin level first before they are considered for the Test team.
But this shouldn’t be a hard-and-fast rule, mainly because of the nature of the scheduling of representative matches which sees the mid-season Test played before the Origin series.
And Meninga is willing to consider Semi Radradra for Australia even though he can’t first see him play Origin, since the Parramatta winger isn’t eligible for that.
Tedesco for the Australian team is a no-brainer. He shines for the Tigers even though there are some weak links there. Imagine how he would look in the Australian side, playing alongside superstars like Inglis, Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith. He would be a sensation.
kiwijack
Guest
I heard that Mals wants RTS as the Aussie fullbackas he heard that he had stopped at Brisbane airport once. Tedesco would be good as would Coote. Dogan is way over rated and won't pass the ball.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
I love that QLDers need to go back to the 80s to name Sterling and Rogers. It's never been about where you were born but where you were raised. Otherwise we could throw current Maroons Thaiday (Sydney) and Gillett (Macksville) into the mix as NSW born players. Inglis at no stage has ever legitimately qualified for QLD. But it's done and dusted.
Matth
Guest
Unfortunately Milf is banned. I sat Boyd to fullback, Oates on the wing and Margan on the bench for impact. Either way, we win
Chris Love
Guest
Inglis' knee is done! I don't know why he is even playing. He's a shadow of his former self out there.
Matth
Guest
Even old Brett Stewart would do the job
Chris Love
Guest
Kaks you're forgetting his form because he was so injury prone over the last few years. He's been one of the most unlucky players running around! 2012 he tore his ACL on Debut in round 1. 2013 he started the season a few games in and ended up playing for most of the season with a cracked fibula and still managed to play for Italy in the World Cup. 2014 he was playing really well before he broke his knee cap and ended up only playing about a third of the season. 2015 was his first full year and was on fire! 4th highest run meters, 3rd highest try scorer, 1st in tackle breaks all while playing for bloody Wests! For 2015 he is head and shoulders the best fullback running around on form. Coote has had some good games but right now Teddy is the Wests version of Jarryd Hayne.
Matth
Guest
Actually Inglis often stinks in game 1 and then goes berserk after that
Matth
Guest
Darius Boyd should be outside Inglis. Dugan is not a centre. If he plays there then don't bother having a winger in attack. Josh Morris for sure. What about Milford on the bench?
Matth
Guest
Like Toowoomba is in NSW (Sterling) and the Gold Coast (Steve Rogers) and so is Auckland (Tamou). Glass houses mate.
marquess thorp
Guest
Mal should just pick the entire Queensland team from last year. I mean if they could beat NSW by 46 they should be able to beat NZ. Also if they put Dugan on the wing like in last years test Australia will definilty lose he was awful last year against NZ
Glen
Guest
Can't see the video but haven't seen anyone mention that Tedesco has represented Italy already. I know he can change international sides but possibly a discussion point? With a World Cup in next year will he be able to play for Kangaroos and jump back to Italy if Slater is back or Inglis hits form.
Dan
Guest
The problem with the 'loyalty' selection is that nsw has lost 9 of the last then series and we got flogged by 50 last outing. Qld would love to see j Reynolds in there. A few rings there that'd love a bit of the hoppy treatment!
Dan
Guest
Who's a better option? Mortimer? I'm sure that'd make Qld shiver in their boots!
Dan
Guest
hey Parrafan, why don't we just bring in Mortimer?
nerval
Guest
"Origin should be a vehicle to attract Newbies to the sport" I doubt that many will agree with you, but I do. Laurie Daley's mindset is far too conservative. It depresses me to hear that he has his heart set on the likes of the worthy, but dull, Hodkinson. Is he rely going to capture the imagination of Australian sporting youth? The Australia Test selections have been that way too - except for Tim Sheens' bewildering lapse into selecting the likes of Newcastle's Mata'utia to represent the Kangaroos. How on earth did that happen? What NSW and Australia both need is an injection of fresh, young blood. There are so many truly brilliant talents out there who need to be given their chance: James Tedesco is one, James Roberts is another, Bryce Cartwright is the kind of back rower that will out-Kiwi the Kiwi forwards and, most of all, Matt Moylan - just 2 games back after a long absence - is pure footballing gold. Let's see some razzle-dazzle!
Muzz
Guest
We now refer to him as Mann Power https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B89aqfegX5k
The Barry
Roar Guru
I agree 100% DOW...hes a freak. Time will tell of course and he'll be doing well to achieve half of what Slater has but the twos physical attributes are comparable. Similar top speed, Slater the edge in acceleration, similar footwork, Tedesco bigger, similar quality in defence, Slater better positioning, Tedesco the better ball player - certainly at the same age
The Barry
Roar Guru
Tedesco was definitely playing this well last season. Maybe not as good but approaching it in 2014. He certainly should be well in the mix. He'd be my fullback but I think selectors will go with Boyd.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Surely when we talk about Australia's next fullback there is only one Mann for the job! The forgotten Mann ! The invisible Mann ! The Worlds strongest Mann ! The Mann who can singlehandedly strengthen two positions at once ! * To the tune of auld langs syne K-u-u-u-rt Mann, Kurt Mann, Kurt Mann, Kurt Mann, Kurt Mann, Kurt Mann, Kurt M-a-a-a-nn, Kurt Mann, Kurt Mann, Kurt Mann, Kurt Mann, K-u-u-u-rt Mann, Kurt Man, Kurt Mann...
Cairns Bronx Fan
Guest
My QLD backline 1.Morgan 2.Boyd 3.Inglis 4.Chambers 5.Gagai Room for Milford on the bench. Game Set Match Yefgeny Kafelnikov.