@pawsandclaws1 said in [Signing Suggestions & Rumours](/post/1247791) said:
Some Chook supporters are blaming Flanagan for Tedesco not being as effective in attack and having to spend more time at dummy half. Seems he is being made the scapegoat for a poor finish.
There is a bit of merit in that I think. The issue for Tedesco is he is not a particularly creative or eyes-up player, not like Keary or Cody Walker. He's also not a hot stepper like RTS or Shaun Johnson who can put a hole in the line by very rapid lateral movement.
Tedesco is a tackle buster with great balance, who causes damage when he gets amongst disrupted defences. He is hard to tackle and has a strong quick fend. He is always around the football for line breaks, offloads and kick chases.
Tedesco is far far less effective against a set and aggressive defensive line. Even with the tackle busting ability, if the defence is set, he'll only bust back and forth in a small area. He might get a quick PTB if he drags defenders out. Tedesco is not particularly fast in a straight line or stepping around cover, so he does need support if he makes a bust.
This all goes back to his Tigers days, where he had the same skillset as now but lacked the support. I know a Roosters supporter who reckoned Tedesco improved when he joined Roosters. I argued that he did not get significantly better, but he did enjoy better outcomes being supported by the likes of Cronk, Keary and Latrell. I mean even Corey Allan can play good football if players like Cook, Reynolds and Walker.
Last week, with Keary down and Manu not really firing first half, Flanagan needed to offer some threat in attack. He did not. That left Tedesco as the only threat, trying his best to conjure up attack with high-energy efforts.
Different story entirely when Keary came back and Manu started to get more involved 2nd half, took a lot of pressure off Tedesco.
Flanagan more or less absent the entire game. But Roosters shouldn't complain too much, that's the footballer he was at the Sharks too. You need to be aware who you are purchasing.