Should James Tedesco start thinking of a club and New South Wales representative move to centre or long shot five-eighth?
With this year’s Origin series seeing some changes in Tedesco’s involvement in the game, his form is still there but with his age should he now vacate the NSW 1 jersey to someone who’s entering their prime with back-to-back premiership rings?
Penrith Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards deserves his shot in the No.1.
The only question is, is NSW ready to do what Queensland did this Origin series, blooding a young Reece Walsh ahead of Kalyn Ponga, former Queensland incumbent fullback.
If NSW are ready to carry out such a move of one of the state’s most favoured sons in Tedesco, the credentials of a NSW great, before this reporter aims to justify his opinion that Edwards deserves the 1 jersey he must first acknowledge the efforts of the NSW great which is Tedesco.
Teddy came into the NSW set-up at a time when the team hadn’t really cemented some sort of consistent series wins and contributed immensely to the 2018 and 2019 series wins. The man is practically one of NSW’s best.
However, NSW must also take Tedesco’s form into consideration. To do what’s best for NSW, he should seriously consider a switch to centre or five-eighth experimentally at the Roosters.
The case study I use is the one involving a Queensland unsung hero called Darius Boyd. In 2016, incumbent Maroons fullback Billy Slater had been injured. Twenty-eight-year-old Boyd was fullback in all three games in a series-winning team effort.
Then you have him play Game 2 of the 2017 series – Boyd showed awareness even though not playing at centre before, the vision and skill to be a decent centre.
The time is right for NSW to usher in its next champion fullback that, with all respect to James Tedesco and everything he’s done with the Roosters, NSW and Australia, it is the window of opportunity for NSW.
How long will Edwards keep knocking, until the door opens? At 27 Edwards is one of the game’s most elite fullbacks and in NSW, himself, Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic are in a class above Cronulla’s Will Kennedy and Parramatta’s Clint Gutherson.
However, unlike Turbo and Mitchell, Edwards is a specialist fullback, and that’s what NSW need: a like-for-like specialist fullback who has a lot of great qualities similar to Tedesco. Turbo and Mitchell look best utilised for NSW in the centres.
However, with Trbojevic’s injury issues, should Tedesco now look at experimenting at centre or five-eighth like Boyd did at the back end of his career at the Broncos?
Should Teddy play another year at fullback and see Edwards turn 28, or should NSW now blood their next elite custodian?
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
There has to be something wrong physically that we don’t know about.
matth
Roar Guru
The other possibility is that at his age with the miles i his legs, playing the World Cup has just left him too fatigued this season. A full off season could be just the ticket.
matth
Roar Guru
Meninga has already come out and backed Teddy to keep his Australian jersey.
matth
Roar Guru
It makes you wonder whether there are some niggling injuries. However it appears as if he's trying to run his way into form and has forgotten how to pass. So he is affecting the form of those around him as well.
matth
Roar Guru
Peter Sterling did a lot for NSW but you don't see him being picked. Nobody gets a free pass forever. See Dane Gagai for QLD.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
Agree, The Barry. Also, he is his state and country captain. Some respect is required. Australian sport in general have a history of letting their skippers go out on their own terms. Personally I still think that he is injured more than just the normal niggles that are carried. Surely you don't lose a yard of acceleration and the inability to jump in an off season.
John Hollins
Roar Rookie
Tedesco has served NSW well and, in my opinion has always been a better origin fullback than anyone else. Because he's now older and has slowed down, it's time to step aside. I'd call up Gutherson who plays with more heart and skill than any other fullback, just what is needed for origin and what Teddy had given us. Playing Teddy in another position is a silly idea when there are specialists all over the competition. In half-back, I've always thought Cleary never performed at Origin level. Moses did a much better job. I think Adam Reynolds would be the pick of the bunch though.
Iron Fist
Roar Rookie
Winger. They don't pass the ball, and that's Teddy's strength!
Cam
Roar Rookie
Sadly, even Bula, the rookie fullback at the bottom of the ladder Tigers has lapped Tedesco. Teddy is probably in front of the bulldogs fullback, but that might be about it.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
yep probably all of those, FB is a list you can fall a lot of places very quickly ... and still to come there's CNK, Brimson ...
Daniel Ealedona
Roar Rookie
He'll have to make those adjustments quick, or by the time next year's serious comes around we'll have blocks lining up for a chance at fullback and end up being told they'll have to wait another year.
Daniel Ealedona
Roar Rookie
Exactly a class player of his calibre sure he can put in some grand performances at centre. Defensively his vision is there as well.
Daniel Ealedona
Roar Rookie
He still has some good games left in him, why can't he be a centre again?
Daniel Ealedona
Roar Rookie
Yes there is no denying his class, however the best interest of the blues has to be considered. And is him at fullback still in the best interest of the blues moving forward.
Daniel Ealedona
Roar Rookie
After everything his done for NSW?
astro
Roar Rookie
https://www.theroar.com.au/2023/01/07/tedesco-latrell-papenhuyzen-and-more-who-are-the-nrls-best-10-fullbacks-for-season-2023/ Pre-season rankings of FBs. Teddy no. 1 and if you read the comments, very few disagreed. But within half a season he's now probably below: Walsh, Edwards, Mitchell, Ponga and arguably Gutho, Drinky, Hammer, Turbo, Kennedy...oof!
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
No one said anything about forcing him to retire. You don't insult a great player like Tedesco by demotingthem to the wing. Imagine if Lockyer or Slater had a form dip and asking them to play on the wing for their club. It just wouldn't happen.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
We will be disagreeing on this one. I put total blame on Teddy’s bad game for that NSW Game 1 loss. Not on Freddie and his selections. It was just one of those bad, bad games by a fullback in every department Well that's a completely balanced position...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Putting him on the wing is an insult, so let’s force him to retire…
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
It would be an insult to put Tedesco on the wing. He should play fullback or retire. Maybe a month off is what he needs. He didn't get much of an off season.