James Tedesco is confident that after playing every game for the Wests Tigers last year he’s got his mojo back.
The young fullback, who has just turned 23, is about to play a fifth season of NRL footy.
“That was a goal last year and I am looking to do that again, as I got a lot of confidence out of playing every game,’’ Tedesco says.
“Hopefully I can do it again in 2016.’’
You just have to take a look at his stats so far to understand why confidence – or head space as Tedesco calls it – will be the fuel that propels the exciting fullback to greater heights in 2016.
Tedesco, aged 19, made his first grade debut in round one of the 2012 season against the Cronulla Sharks at Leichhardt Oval.
He suffered a serious knee injury in the first half and missed the rest of the season.
He backed up to play 19 matches the following year, but it was obvious the injury was still on his mind.
The following season, in 2014, he played just eight matches after suffering another knee injury.
But it’s a reflection of this young man’s determination that not only did he return from injury to play every match last year, but he was the Wests Tigers’ best by a country mile.
There is no doubt that 2015 was a breakthrough year for James Tedesco.
A year when his magical rugby league skills were finally on display.
The Camden Rams junior took out the club’s NRL Player’s Player and Members’ Player awards after bagging 17 tries from those 24 games.
Tedesco also returned to the rep scene with City Origin selection and was probably unlucky not to get at least one game for NSW in the Origin series.
He was setting up tries, scoring them himself and running freely as he chimed into the attack for the Wests Tigers.
Tedesco’s confidence was back.
“In previous years it was more about head space – I was worrying about injuries,’’ Tedesco says.
“The mental side of things when you get injured is tough, so getting that year under my belt last season was really good for my confidence and my head space.
“I no longer worry about getting injured again, no, it’s all good now.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“After my first injury I spoke to Benji Marshall and Pat Richards, who had surgery reconstructions when they were younger, and they just said, keep your head up, keep working hard.[/social_quote]
“Also when you first come into grade at a young age your body is still maturing, so it was good advice from Benji and Paddy,’’ Tedesco says.
Tedesco has scored 31 tries in the 52 NRL matches he has played.
Which is not bad considering his injuries.
But when you look at his 2015 stats – 17 tries from 24 games – it is easy to understand why people like Queensland great Ben Ikin, now a Fox Sports rugby league host, lauded Tedesco as being potentially as good if not better than the little master Billy Slater.
Indeed, before his fateful debut back in 2012, Tedesco was already being labelled as the new Billy Slater.
Talking to him this week it was obvious this wonderful rugby league excitement machine from Menangle is itching to test his skills with those higher up in the rugby league food chain.
But note the maturity reflected in his answer when I ask him which goals are more important for him in 2016, playing rep footy or helping the club make the finals?
“I think it’s more important for me to get the club off the bottom of the table,’’ Tedesco says.
“I think the last few years we have been nowhere near the top eight and it’s not good for your confidence when we’re not winning games.
“We’re a team of young kids, we’re all a bit inexperienced so we need to all work hard, work very hard, to get us off the bottom of the table this year.
“We do think we are a top eight competitor in the NRL, that’s a big goal for us.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“And obviously if I am playing good footy for the Tigers Origin footy is a possibility,’’ Tedesco says.[/social_quote]
The Wests Tigers have had an off season peppered with distractions including the Robbie Farah drama, but Tedesco says it’s had no effect on the playing group and coach Jason Taylor.
“I think everyone’s sort of brushed it off and, like we should, footy comes first, the team comes first.
“I think that’s how JT [Jason Taylor] has been treating it.’’
In 2005, James Tedesco, aged 12, watched the rugby league grand final between the Wests Tigers and the Cowboys as a young Roosters fan.
But he did want the Tigers to win that day in October 11 years ago.
“I followed the Roosters then because the team I played all my junior football with, the Camden Rams, play in the same colours,’’ Tedesco says.
“But living at Menangle, the Wests Tigers were the closest NRL team to where we lived so I always had a soft spot for them.
“And Benji, watching him play and Hodgo (grand final fullback and Wests Tigers legend Brett Hodgson), that was a good memory, seeing them win the grand final.’’
Tedesco nearly left the Tigers nest for greener pastures in Canberra, but as he’s about to play his fifth season in orange and black does he think about the possibility of being a one club man?
“You never really know, especially with the whole Robbie thing – he lives and dies for the club and next thing there’s rumours all over the place that they want him to leave,’’ Tedesco says.
“I’d obviously would love to stay here but you can never know, you can’t pick the future so you just don’t think about it.’’
♦ The Wests Tigers host Cronulla Sharks in a pre season NRL trial match 7pm this Saturday, February 20 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
