James Tedesco will play for the Roosters in 2018 and beyond, signing a contract to join Sydney for four years at the end of this season.
Tedesco was widely expected to leave the Tigers after he elected not to re-sign with the club before a deadline set several weeks ago.
He had been repeatedly linked to the Roosters during this season and those rumours have now proven to be true.
It means three of the Wests Tigers’ ‘Big Four’ players will play at new clubs in 2018, with Mitchell Moses and Aaron Woods also electing to move on to the Parramatta Eels and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs respectively.
Sydney Roosters CEO Joe Kelly was understandably very pleased to have secured Tedesco’s signature.
“James is a tremendously exciting talent whose signature we are pleased to have secured and we look forward to welcoming him to the Roosters in 2018,” said Kelly.
Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe said Tedesco’s decision to leave the Tigers was disappointing, but wished him the best.
“I’m sure this decision hasn’t been made lightly by James and while it will be disappointing to see him leave at season’s end we will continue to provide him with all the support he needs,” said Pascoe.
“James is a quality young man, both on and off the field, and I’m sure he’ll be a great addition to his new club.”
Tedesco said in April that an offer from the Roosters – and the Bulldogs, who were also courting him then – would be tempting given the successes of both clubs compared to the Tigers in recent years.
“I think clubs like the Bulldogs and Roosters, you know they’re always going to be strong and they’ve always been run from the top very powerfully,” Tedesco said at the time.
“The Tigers have always been down the bottom, we’ve always had off-field dramas and that stuff gets quite annoying over the years when you have to put up with it.
“That stability at other clubs is tempting, I guess, when you think about it.
“Ivan’s come in and said it will take a bit of time, and there is hope there that we can get back on track and that’s the hope we need.”
Mushi
Guest
And my parents promised me I could be anything I wanted but grand emperor of the universe eludes me to this day. Mitchell is barely ready to be a first grade 3/4. If someone plays him at 1 without a major leap in his positioning and discipline ball in hand then good luck to them.
Mushi
Guest
How many coaches are they paying now it's just down to two right?
curaeus
Guest
What cap is that?
The Barry
Roar Guru
?
Bumsy
Roar Rookie
So we'll GI and two players hyped up as the next GI as backup.
Benny
Guest
You may be right that Mitchell was promised a fb position a year ago. But if he knows what's best for him he will realise that he'll make far more of a career out of playing at centre, where he's a good chance to be the best centre in the game for the best part of a decade. That's a big if, and will depend on how much of a humble head the guy has on his shoulders though
Dutski
Roar Guru
Showing your age gents, showing your age. Ps ask me why I don't wear any pants... Because they haven't built a pair yet that could take the job on. WOOF!
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Mitchell was promised a full back position. Mitchell aint getting one now for another 4 years. Mitchells leaving. Souths will be prepared. This is GIs last year I reckon. Souths will have cash to throw at a fullback, their current squad sucks.
Al
Guest
Best thing for the club, it finally got its house in order for all to see, except the media it seems. Wests taking charge, a coach that won't bow to player power and now with these blokes that blindly follow their manager gone, there is plenty of cash to buy players with talent all over the park instead of a few that although were good, never were in the league of a Thurston that could take them to finals... well done to the club.
The Barry
Roar Guru
From the Standing-at-the-back-dressed-stup1dly-and-looking-stup1d party
Jock Cornet
Guest
We don't need Tedesco but hey a lot of brown envelopes will be required to keep under the salary cap.
Chui
Guest
A failed politician from Dunny-On-The-Wold. Jest ye not madam.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
Iva Biggun? He was in Icehouse wasn't he?
Wolly
Roar Guru
I'm guessing you've been in a similar situation seeing as you're taking the moral high ground?
The Barry
Roar Guru
#IVABIGGUN
Gray-Hand
Guest
Why do so many Tigers fans think that these guys should show loyalty to a club that has repeatedly shown such disloyalty to its players and coaches?
Benny
Guest
Being dropped had nothing to do with Teddy's departure. It had to do with his tendency to drift in and out of games, something he had well before any Teddy rumours. He made the defensive misread that lost the manly game and was spewing at himself. Then was poor all throughout the broncos game and lost it towards the end, so Robbo took him off as he spitting the dummy a bit. Robbo thinks he needs a break to learn to not drift in and out of games and also start enjoying it again after how down he was getting about those 2 games and has emphasised to him that he is an integral part of the future at the club, just at centre which will be his best position anyway
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Probably one of the worst tags in the NRL at the moment. #IMAROOSTER. Use capitals and lowercases you numpties.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Mitchell will be leaving. He was promised a fullback spot and he aint getting it. Why has he been dropped to the Roos ever sense Teddys departure to the Roosters has been more or less confirmed?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Just like Reynolds, Matulino, MWZ and McQueen are traitors? Poor sportsmanship...