http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/star-rookies-nrl-debut-ends-in-tears-20120304-1uavz.html
Didn;t realise Robbie did his knee early on?
Star rookie's NRL debut ends in tears
March 4, 2012 - 7:16PM
Stretchered off … Boom rookie James Tedesco faces 12 months on the sidelines after injuring his knee on his NRL debut.
Stretchered off ... Boom rookie James Tedesco faces 12 months on the sidelines after injuring his knee on his NRL debut. Photo: Steve Christo
They say Balmain boys don't cry, but some couldn't help themselves at the sight of stricken debutant fullback James Tedesco in the sheds.
Tedesco's first NRL game - and almost certainly his season - ended after just 30 minutes on Sunday when his left knee buckled without a hand laid on him in Wests Tigers' golden point win over Cronulla at Leichhardt Oval.
Like Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper at the Rugby World Cup, the 19-year-old was jinking in front of the defensive line when he went down like he'd been taken out by a sniper in the stands.
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A day to forget ... Tigers fullback James Tedesco.
A day to forget ... Tigers fullback James Tedesco. Photo: Steve Christo
The standing ovation he got as he was stretchered off was of little comfort as he faces the prospect of season-ending knee reconstruction surgery.
And not even the team's delirium at Benji Marshall's extra time winning field goal could gloss over the players' bitter disappointment for their young colleague.
"Just seeing his reaction in the sheds, he was crying in there and it brought a tear to a few of the boys' eyes," said Marshall, himself no stranger to the surgeon's scalpel in the early days of his career.
"We see him as such a great talent, and he's fit into the squad well and he's a really good kid."
For Sheens it means a rethink on the No.1 jumper he'd already gambled on by giving it to the rookie.
Former Parramatta utility Tom Humble impressed after coming on in his place, while Joel Reddy and Mitch Brown will also come into calculations.
"It's disappointing for him, a 19-year-old in his very first game," Sheens said.
"I think he showed why we earmarked him as our first grade fullback.
"But Robbie Farah did the same thing at the same age and came back stronger. Tim Moltzen has done it and came back stronger. All you can do as a footballer is get on with it."
AAP
Didn;t realise Robbie did his knee early on?
Star rookie's NRL debut ends in tears
March 4, 2012 - 7:16PM
Stretchered off … Boom rookie James Tedesco faces 12 months on the sidelines after injuring his knee on his NRL debut.
Stretchered off ... Boom rookie James Tedesco faces 12 months on the sidelines after injuring his knee on his NRL debut. Photo: Steve Christo
They say Balmain boys don't cry, but some couldn't help themselves at the sight of stricken debutant fullback James Tedesco in the sheds.
Tedesco's first NRL game - and almost certainly his season - ended after just 30 minutes on Sunday when his left knee buckled without a hand laid on him in Wests Tigers' golden point win over Cronulla at Leichhardt Oval.
Like Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper at the Rugby World Cup, the 19-year-old was jinking in front of the defensive line when he went down like he'd been taken out by a sniper in the stands.
Advertisement: Story continues below
A day to forget ... Tigers fullback James Tedesco.
A day to forget ... Tigers fullback James Tedesco. Photo: Steve Christo
The standing ovation he got as he was stretchered off was of little comfort as he faces the prospect of season-ending knee reconstruction surgery.
And not even the team's delirium at Benji Marshall's extra time winning field goal could gloss over the players' bitter disappointment for their young colleague.
"Just seeing his reaction in the sheds, he was crying in there and it brought a tear to a few of the boys' eyes," said Marshall, himself no stranger to the surgeon's scalpel in the early days of his career.
"We see him as such a great talent, and he's fit into the squad well and he's a really good kid."
For Sheens it means a rethink on the No.1 jumper he'd already gambled on by giving it to the rookie.
Former Parramatta utility Tom Humble impressed after coming on in his place, while Joel Reddy and Mitch Brown will also come into calculations.
"It's disappointing for him, a 19-year-old in his very first game," Sheens said.
"I think he showed why we earmarked him as our first grade fullback.
"But Robbie Farah did the same thing at the same age and came back stronger. Tim Moltzen has done it and came back stronger. All you can do as a footballer is get on with it."
AAP
