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James Tedesco wins his first Clive Churchill Medal
Annabelle Banfield, AAP •  October 5th, 2026 12:30 am
James Tedesco won his first Clive Churchill Medal after helping the Roosters edge Newcastle | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
Captain James Tedesco has won the illustrious Clive Churchill medal, completing his set of the game's greatest individual awards as the Sydney Roosters won the 2026 NRL title over Newcastle in a one-point thriller.
The honour will sit alongside Tedesco's Wally Lewis Medal, earnt in the 2019 State of Origin series, and his Dally M's from 2019 and 2025.
Tedesco was instrumental for the Tricolours at Accor Stadium on Sunday by churning through 385m, the most by a player in any NRL finals match.
A constantly elusive presence, the fullback racked up 14 tackle breaks and was close to faultless under the high ball.
James Tedesco's huge night with and without the ball earned him man-of-the-match honours | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Tedesco was a back-to-back premiership winner with the Roosters in 2018 and 2019 but this title marks his first time captaining a side to the top.
"So proud of this team, what a game," he said immediately after the match.
"Honestly, it felt like we had them on the ropes, but they just kept coming back.
"There's so many great attacking players and that game could've gone either way."
Retired great Peter Sterling presented Tedesco with the medal, 40 years after becoming the first winner of the iconic award.
"To our boys, to our supporters that came out supported us all year, thank you," the captain said.
