Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Find your Sport Nation frequencyTedesco for Origin? Robbo makes the case
Nicholas Quinlan • May 3rd, 2025 1:26 pm
James Tedesco is making a strong case to return to the fullback position for the NSW Origin side after a dominant display at Magic Round.
Throughout the 2024 Men’s State of Origin series, Tedesco and Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards featured for NSW in the number one jersey with Edwards remaining the incumbent.
But with Edwards having an injury-affected season so far, the door has opened for Tedesco and he’s made sure to make the most of any chance.
He was brilliant for the tricolours as he amassed 271 run metres, two line break assists, two try assists and broke ten tackles in their 36-26 win against the Dolphins.
Speaking post-game, Roosters coach Trent Robinson was full of praise for his captain for what he described as just another typical performance for him.
“I don’t what to say about Ted (Tedesco),” Robinson joked. “I said congratulations on another typical game from Ted.
“It’s just an absolute pleasure to coach, to watch during the week, prepare, the mentality he goes into every day and turns up.
“It’s just…it’s so rare to watch someone do what he does every week for so many years. And coaches don’t say that about someone sitting next to them because they’re worried that it will change the way they think.
“But I don’t have any fear for that. The way he prepares, and I know the way he is every single day and every single week and it's just what he does.
“He’s such a great leader for us.
Robinson would continue his praise also noting his longevity for the Roosters since joining in 2018 from the West Tigers.
“It’s just an honour as a coach and I’ve been really lucky to coach some really great players and Ted stands up there with them all,” he said.
“I’ve got the best spectator spot to watch him go around. I don’t have enough words to say how good he is as a player.
But Robinson would stop short to suggest that Tedesco should be the Origin fullback for NSW.
“I don’t want to get into that,” he noted.
“I know who he is, and Dylan Edwards is an amazing player. I think Ted’s spoken about it.
“They are all great players, it’s just who the coach wants to choose.”
Sydney will have a bye next week.
They next play the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on the 16th of May to make it three wins in a row.
