For Money or Glory? The question James Tedesco must answer

[Guest]

The question James Tedesco must answer
Peter FitzSimons - SMH
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There was an interesting juxtaposition this week in Australian sport. On the one hand you had James Tedesco, the colossally talented fullback for the Wests Tigers publicly duchessed by the Roosters – saying come with us, for less money, because at least you'll have a good team around you, and a stable club. And on the other you had Gary Ablett jnr announcing that after six years with the Gold Coast Suns on colossal wages, but little else to show for it, he'd had enough and would finish with them at the end of the year. Anything Tedesco can learn from Ablett's experience, before making his decision?

Try this? It is hard not to reckon that Ablett jnr has some regret all these years on for, seemingly, pursuing the money alone. The dual Brownlow medallist was the star of Geelong, just as his father before him, and was already on good coin before taking a colossal dollar to go to the Gold Coast where … pretty much nothing happened. A good half of the career of the most stupendously talented player in the game will simply read, "and then he went to the Gold Coast for six years ... "

True, if Ablett weeps now, it will at least likely be on silken sheets, which is something. But in the case of Tedesco – according to the figures provided by Andrew Webster on Friday – it looks like Tedesco would be asked to take a pay cut, from a likely $1.1 million offer by the Tigers, to a close-to $800K offer from the Roosters.

Get it? Ablett was offered huge money to go from a great team to a terrible team. Tedesco is being offered less money to go from a low-ranking team, to a potentially great team. What should he do?

For my money, he should stay with the Tigers. Be the bloke they build the team around. Be the one who steps up and makes the point, 'yes, right now we are on the bones of our arse, but only on the competition table ... we actually have the makings of a freaking dynasty here, if we just hang tight together and play our hearts out'.

The bottom line? Tedesco has the rare opportunity of taking the huge money, and staying with the team of his heart.

All up, it can't be that hard a decision?

 

[WestsBenTigers]

We need to send the last part of this article to Ivan Cleary & James Tedesco

 

[Chris]

I almost stopped reading this article at juxtaposition.

 

[Tacky]

Peter FitzSimons sounds like a Tigers supporter. He sounds desperate.

 

[king_sirro]

I almost stopped reading this article at juxtaposition.

hahahaha me too. Fitzy is sich a goose

 

[jadtiger]

Peter FitzSimons sounds like a Tigers supporter. He sounds desperate.

Hardly he is a former Wallaby and dosent have much time for league.A very well written article.

 

[Swordy]

I dont know about you guys, but ive always felt success was far greater if i pulled myself off the ground, worked hard and got to the top, as opposed to joining in with someone elses success and getting the ride.

If he leaves and wins the comp, thats great and im sure he or anyone else will be excited.

But isnt it just that much sweeter if you work from the bottom and get to the top yourself?

 

[Sco77y]

I dont know about you guys, but ive always felt success was far greater if i pulled myself off the ground, worked hard and got to the top, as opposed to joining in with someone elses success and getting the ride.

If he leaves and wins the comp, thats great and im sure he or anyone else will be excited.

But isnt it just that much sweeter if you work from the bottom and get to the top yourself?

Well said Swordy that's very true.

Not to mention I get the feeling we're not far away from some big success at this club, they finally seem to be taking things seriously and are intent on building a winning culture and success from the ground up.

It's all swings and roundabouts too, so as long as our club continue to put in the effort, eventually we'll have our turn. Tedesco can do what he wants, and if he does leave I have confidence that we can continue building something without him. Although I feel he'd be missing out on the start of something great.

 

[Telltails]

Very hard for us to be objective in this arguement as supporters of the club.
We could just as quickly demand for Teddy to be cut or sacked if his form slipped or he had ongoing injuries etc and yet was taking up a large chunk of our cap.
If realistically we are still a couple of years away from finals footy - (he probably was told that last contract as well) and thats what he wants at this point in his career I dont know how we can compete against the Roosters.
Just sort it out one way or another - hopefully sooner rather than later.

 

[Geo]

Fitz's bandana is too tight…

 

[happy_tiger]

Fitz's bandana is too tight…

That or Lisa's hand are too tight round his throat :laughing:

 

[timmings01]

Fans keep saying it will probably take the Tigers a few years to make the finals. Why? It was going to take a few years when Taylor arrived. Before that it was going to take a few years. What happens if Cleary does no better than the other coaches? Does it mean that in a few years we'll still be waiting a few years to make the finals? The team has played together long enough now to actually start winning more than losing. No more excuses.

 

[Telltails]

Fans keep saying it will probably take the Tigers a few years to make the finals. Why? It was going to take a few years when Taylor arrived. Before that it was going to take a few years. What happens if Cleary does no better than the other coaches? Does it mean that in a few years we'll still be waiting a few years to make the finals? The team has played together long enough now to actually start winning more than losing. No more excuses.

Roster simple - we havnt replaced what we have lost and it looks like we are about to lose some more.

We have got money this time - so you could also point the no more excuses finger back at the management too. Just got to convince players that we are worth the risk - thats Ivans challenge.

 

[Yossarian]

I must have missed when the Rooster won the last 10 premierships. Sure theyve been more successful but last year they were rubbish. There are no guarantees. Thurston probably had a similar decision to make in reverse when he left the Dogs. I'm sure he doesn't regret it.

 

[ricksen]

'Less money' and 'roosters' should never be in the same sentence.

 

[PrattenParkMagpie]

Anyone who believes the Roosters aren’t offering near top dollar is delusional, it may be $800,000 contract money but there would be a very hefty TPA in there as well.

Bit tired of the Roosters are a stable club garbage, and rest assured Teddy if your form slips or you sustain a long term injury they will have no hesitation in offloading you, they have done it many times before, though the plus is Uncle Nick will slip you an extra half a million to move on quietly.

 

[tigerbalm]

I have a good feeling that teddy is about the glory.

 

[greatodensraven]

I dont know about you guys, but ive always felt success was far greater if i pulled myself off the ground, worked hard and got to the top, as opposed to joining in with someone elses success and getting the ride.

If he leaves and wins the comp, thats great and im sure he or anyone else will be excited.

But isnt it just that much sweeter if you work from the bottom and get to the top yourself?

Exactly. Get on the bus Teddy!

:sign:

 

[Flippedy]

I dont know about you guys, but ive always felt success was far greater if i pulled myself off the ground, worked hard and got to the top, as opposed to joining in with someone elses success and getting the ride.

If he leaves and wins the comp, thats great and im sure he or anyone else will be excited.

But isnt it just that much sweeter if you work from the bottom and get to the top yourself?

Exactly. Get on the bus Teddy!

:sign:

I think Teddy has already done that, Swordy. Coming back from 2 shocking injuries, he has pulled himself up, worked hard and is now rated the best fullback in the game!

Teddy deserves team success, but you can only really concentrate on being your best self and hope the other blokes around you are doing the same. So far, he has been let down, he can't create team success on his own.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I dont know about you guys, but ive always felt success was far greater if i pulled myself off the ground, worked hard and got to the top, as opposed to joining in with someone elses success and getting the ride.

If he leaves and wins the comp, thats great and im sure he or anyone else will be excited.

But isnt it just that much sweeter if you work from the bottom and get to the top yourself?

Exactly. Get on the bus Teddy!

:sign:

I think Teddy has already done that, Swordy. Coming back from 2 shocking injuries, he has pulled himself up, worked hard and is now rated the best fullback in the game!

Teddy deserves team success, but you can only really concentrate on being your best self and hope the other blokes around you are doing the same. So far, he has been let down, he can't create team success on his own.

Hard to create success with no cap space.