Wests Tigers legend Benny Elias says James Tedesco could follow Luke Brooks, Mitchell Moses exit
Simon BrunsdonFOX SPORTS
\
\
WESTS Tigers legend Benny Elias has slammed his beloved club for failing to tie up Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses for the long-term and says James Tedesco could be next out the door if they don’t re-sign the young halves.
Tedesco was one of the few shining lights for the Tigers in a dismal 2015 season after nearly walking out on the club to join the Raiders a year earlier.
Elias describes the three young stars, who have been built up as the future of the club, as “thick as thieves” and says a carefully conceived plan to shape the roster around them could completely crumble if the Tigers can’t get their act together, and fast.
“They are at Mitch’s place every day, they are as thick as thieves the three of them,” Elias, who is also Moses’ uncle, told foxsports.com.au.
“Tedesco will go where these two blokes go, I’ll tell you.
\
\
Mitchell Moses, James Tedesco, and Luke Brooks at training.
“If it wasn’t for the bonding with Mitch and Luke, I reckon Tedesco would have been in Canberra this year, and where would we be without him?
“It’s a massive blow if they leave.
“They are the backbone, they are the future of the club and that’s what the spectators are waiting to see.
“Then you’ve got Aaron Woods, four kids.
“You give Craig Bellamy four kids and he builds a whole side around them.
“If the club is going to do anything they must keep these kids.”
Elias’ comments come amid speculation Brooks and Moses are delaying a contract extension with the Tigers.
The two young playmakers are off contract at the end of 2016 but have a clause in their favour which would extend their deals until the end of the 2017 season if activated.
The deadline to activate the clause was originally January, but it was reported this week the pair have requested the deadline be pushed back to June.
It’s a worrying sign for the Tigers, who have offloaded a number of players over the past two years in order to keep Brooks and Moses locked down.
Blake Austin left for Canberra last year, Marty Taupau has now gone to Manly, and just a few months ago Robbie Farah revealed he had been told he would play reserve grade if he didn’t leave the club — partly to clear some additional room in a heavily loaded salary cap.
Tigers coach Jason Taylor and Luke Brooks.
But Elias says it’s the actions of past administration — as well as some tough calls by coach Jason Taylor — at the Tigers that have left some of the players disenchanted.
“It’s disappointing, and it’s basically a product of what’s happening off the football field,” Elias said.
“It’s like a tsunami has gone through the joint.
“This bloke (new CEO Justin Pascoe) has now taken up that position and he’s copping it, he’s got to rebuild the whole place because it’s a disaster.
“I think the new CEO is a very good start, I think he’s a very reasonable fella.
“The coach comes out and says Robbie Farah is playing reserve grade next year, then first session back you stand next to Robbie Farah, does the coach think you’re aligned with Robbie Farah instead of him?
“It’s things like that that will not make it a better club.”
Elias clarified that 21-year-old Moses wants to remain at Concord if the club can get back on track.
Tedesco, 22, is contracted to the Tigers for two more years, as is 24-year-old Woods.
Originally published as ‘If halves go, Tedesco could follow’
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/wests-tigers-legend-benny-elias-says-james-tedesco-could-follow-luke-brooks-mitchell-moses-exit/story-fnp0lyn3-1227614051612
