Wests Tigers fullback James Tedesco won't let Origin snub affect his club form
Date April 2, 2015 - 6:38PM
Daniel Lane
Wests Tigers duo Chris Lawrence and Luke Brooks are adamant James Tedesco will not be rattled before Easter Monday's match against Parramatta by NSW coach Laurie Daley's revelation he was not in contention for a start in this season's State of Origin series.
While Tedesco has started the season superbly, Daley said Manly's Brett Stewart, Penrith's Matt Moylan and St George Illawarra's Josh Dugan were in a three-way shoot-out to fill the fullback spot vacated by Jarryd Hayne when he left to trial with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers.
Lawrence, a former international, doubted whether Tedesco would be affected by Daley's assessment that he was not ready for the rigours of Origin football.
"I can't comment whether [playing Origin] was on his mind or not, but I don't think anyone has spoken to him [about any disappointment]," Lawrence said before training on Thursday. "And I don't think he'd be thinking about that at this stage. For all the players here it's just about building on our game each and every week, and if we can start putting 80 minute performances together and winning consecutive games then players like 'Teddy' – and a lot of the younger players – are going to put their hands up for representative selection."
Nevertheless, Lawrence, who has played six Tests for Australia, was adamant Tedesco was Origin class.
"Definitely," he said. "I train with the guy every day so I know the skill he's got and obviously everyone's got a taste of that with the limited number of games he's played. I think for Teddy it's just a matter of getting his confidence and building his game through playing consecutive games. Once everyone sees what a great talent he is representative honours won't be too far away."
Brooks echoed Lawrence's sentiments when he said Tedesco was more than capable of playing for the Blues. "He's not thinking about that, he's just worried about playing good footy for the Tigers," Brooks said. "He's one of the best fullbacks NSW has got. He should be considered but, in saying that, he's not too worried."
Brooks said his biggest priority was Monday's match-up against Parramatta's No.7 Chris Sandow, who electrified the Eels in their upset victory over defending premiers South Sydney last Friday night. "He's playing well, he's looking pretty trim and he's looking quite quick as well," Brooks said. "That's going to be a good test for us – stopping him. I think if we can stop their forwards we can stop him."
Brooks said he was still disappointed he missed the field goal that could have sealed a golden point victory in last week's match against Canterbury at ANZ Stadium. Bulldogs five-eighth Moses Mbye booted a field goal to provide his team with a nail-biting 25-24 win. However, the 20-year-old said the biggest lesson to come out of that match was the need to "finish games off" after the Wests Tigers squandered a 24-6 lead with 20 minutes remaining.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/wests-tigers/wests-tigers-fullback-james-tedesco-wont-let-origin-snub-affect-his-club-form-20150402-1mdpsv.html
Date April 2, 2015 - 6:38PM
Daniel Lane
Wests Tigers duo Chris Lawrence and Luke Brooks are adamant James Tedesco will not be rattled before Easter Monday's match against Parramatta by NSW coach Laurie Daley's revelation he was not in contention for a start in this season's State of Origin series.
While Tedesco has started the season superbly, Daley said Manly's Brett Stewart, Penrith's Matt Moylan and St George Illawarra's Josh Dugan were in a three-way shoot-out to fill the fullback spot vacated by Jarryd Hayne when he left to trial with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers.
Lawrence, a former international, doubted whether Tedesco would be affected by Daley's assessment that he was not ready for the rigours of Origin football.
"I can't comment whether [playing Origin] was on his mind or not, but I don't think anyone has spoken to him [about any disappointment]," Lawrence said before training on Thursday. "And I don't think he'd be thinking about that at this stage. For all the players here it's just about building on our game each and every week, and if we can start putting 80 minute performances together and winning consecutive games then players like 'Teddy' – and a lot of the younger players – are going to put their hands up for representative selection."
Nevertheless, Lawrence, who has played six Tests for Australia, was adamant Tedesco was Origin class.
"Definitely," he said. "I train with the guy every day so I know the skill he's got and obviously everyone's got a taste of that with the limited number of games he's played. I think for Teddy it's just a matter of getting his confidence and building his game through playing consecutive games. Once everyone sees what a great talent he is representative honours won't be too far away."
Brooks echoed Lawrence's sentiments when he said Tedesco was more than capable of playing for the Blues. "He's not thinking about that, he's just worried about playing good footy for the Tigers," Brooks said. "He's one of the best fullbacks NSW has got. He should be considered but, in saying that, he's not too worried."
Brooks said his biggest priority was Monday's match-up against Parramatta's No.7 Chris Sandow, who electrified the Eels in their upset victory over defending premiers South Sydney last Friday night. "He's playing well, he's looking pretty trim and he's looking quite quick as well," Brooks said. "That's going to be a good test for us – stopping him. I think if we can stop their forwards we can stop him."
Brooks said he was still disappointed he missed the field goal that could have sealed a golden point victory in last week's match against Canterbury at ANZ Stadium. Bulldogs five-eighth Moses Mbye booted a field goal to provide his team with a nail-biting 25-24 win. However, the 20-year-old said the biggest lesson to come out of that match was the need to "finish games off" after the Wests Tigers squandered a 24-6 lead with 20 minutes remaining.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/wests-tigers/wests-tigers-fullback-james-tedesco-wont-let-origin-snub-affect-his-club-form-20150402-1mdpsv.html
