Tedesco steps up as Gareth Ellis bows out

[Discussion_Bot]


While one player yesterday announced he was leaving Wests Tigers, another has just arrived.

Popular backrower Gareth Ellis told his teammates the 2012 season would be his last in the NRL before returning home to England. His announcement came only hours before exciting fullback James Tedesco was named to make his first grade debut against Cronulla at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.

While Ellis's decision caught his teammates by surprise, the writing was on the wall as early as last year when he extended his contract until 2013 but inserted a get-out clause that allowed him to leave at the end of this year.

Tigers officials maintained Ellis was not battling bad homesickness but the English backrower acknowledged in a statement it was time to head home after he and wife Rachael became parents to a son, Isaac.

"It was a difficult decision to make as I have really enjoyed my time at Wests Tigers. Everyone at the club has been terrific to me and my family. I couldn't ask for more."I have a young son now. My wife, Rachael, and I feel it is time to head home to our families at the end of this season. I can assure Wests Tigers supporters I will be giving it my all to ensure the team finishes as high up as possible."

Ellis, who became the first Wests Tiger to win the player of the year award for three consecutive seasons, has been hampered by a groin injury recently, negating his impact as a wide-running backrower.

It is believed this is one of the reasons the Tigers pursued former Melbourne backrower Adam Blair so aggressively last season before he agreed to join the club.

The shock move by Ellis almost overshadowed the news that Tedesco, 19, had beaten Joel Reddy and Tom Humble for the fullback's job following two impressive performances in pre-season trial matches.

Centre Chris Lawrence, 23, who turned in a memorable debut as a 17-year-old for the Tigers, said Tedesco had the temperament of an experienced NRL player and he was confident he would handle the occasion on Sunday.

"He's shown in the trials that he's got great skills and great ability," Lawrence said.

"Yeah, he's a young bloke but he's been been training the house down and fitted in like a bloke who has 50 games under his belt.

"I'll definitely sit down and have a chat to him and talk to him about my experiences. Your first first grade game is always a nerve-racking one but the main thing I'll say to him is don't go into your shell and back your ability."

Lawrence, who will celebrate his 100th first-grade game on Sunday, said he was hoping this would be a year where he stole the limelight off some of the more accomplished centres in the game, Greg Inglis and Justin Hodges. "It's a goal of mine this year to be one of the dominant centres in the game," he said.

"For me, it's about staying on the field, staying healthy and playing consistent football.

"You see the good centres are consistently good - they're not good one week and average the next.

[Source](http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/wests-tigers-fullback-james-tedesco-steps-up-as-gareth-ellis-bows-out/story-e6frg7mf-1226284433639)

 

[happy_tiger]

Absolutely shocked about Gareth Ellis Would of thought last season that BMM might fill Gareth's void but I have my reservations about BMM now I think we may need to look outside the club for his replacement

As I said in a previous thread Jeremy Smith could be a likely replacement

 

[Guest]

Tedesco will handle it, the kid is like a sponge and really does listen and learn. As for replacing Gareth…that will be very difficult.

 

[Guest]

Tedesco hopes for class of Lawrence
Scott Dougherty
March 1, 2012

GROWING up, the 100 hectares surrounding his home just south of Campbelltown was James Tedesco's training paddock where he pushed himself to reach his goal of playing in the NRL.

On Sunday afternoon, he'll have reached it when he runs on to Leichhardt Oval alongside Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah and the fellow former St Gregory's College student he wants to emulate, Chris Lawrence.

''When I was in year 7 at St Greg's, Chris was in year 12,'' Tedesco said. ''I remember when he made his debut in first grade, he was still at school and all the papers came to school and took pictures of him and his friends. I looked up to him.''

Lawrence didn't even know that Tedesco was a fellow student when he made his debut, until the fullback told him three weeks ago.

Now 19, Tedesco's playing style has been compared to Melbourne's Billy Slater, and he admits he's been influenced by the Storm No.1.

''Slater's support play and his speed is what I base my game on,'' Tedesco said. ''I'm up there in the sprints at training and I've got pretty good agility off the mark.

''Tim [Sheens] seems to like my fitness. He likes fullbacks having no excuses to get to the ball.''

One of the requirements as a fullback is to communicate with the back line - difficult for a shy teenager playing with a line-up full of superstars.

''A big role of fullback is to talk and yell,'' Tedesco said. ''The boys all tell me to yell, and Chris [Lawrence] has been really good with that.

''He tells me where I should be telling him to be, and encourages me to tell people where to be.''

Before last season, Lote Tuqiri nominated Aaron Woods as the rookie who would make his mark with the Tigers. Woods went on to play 24 games for Wests Tigers.

This year, Tuqiri is looking to the teenager with the No.1 on his back to shine.

''Young Tedesco has a good head on his shoulders,'' Tuqiri said. ''He's a really good trainer and has impressed with everything he's done. They're the guys you want in your team.''

A year ago, Tedesco was playing for Western Suburbs Magpies in the SG Ball before being promoted to the Wests Tigers under-20s team. He then won their player of the year award.

While ''trying to stay grounded'', what will his first-grade debut mean to James Tedesco?

''It would mean so much to me, my family, my friends, everyone who has watched and supported me my whole life,'' he said.

''But no one would be prouder than myself.''

 

[Guest]

Sheens lets Tedesco's talent do the talking
Michael Chammas
March 2, 2012
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TIM SHEENS has known for quite a while that rookie fullback James Tedesco has the goods to play in the NRL, but he isn't expecting him to set the competition alight in his maiden season.

Just over a fortnight ago Sheens said: ''I would be surprised If I started the year with him'', but yesterday he declared the 19-year-old ready to make his debut, against Cronulla at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.

''It was one of those things we weighed up,'' Sheens said. ''We felt his form was good. I had a particularly good, hard look at him in the two trials. We planned to play him fullback with Timmy [Moltzen] going to seven now, but I'm not expecting the world from him. I just want him to do his job and build his game over the next half a season.''

Throwing a teenager into the NRL isn't something new to Sheens. He did the same thing with Chris Lawrence and Benji Marshall, and both have gone on to play at the highest level.

''Sometimes you throw youngsters in by necessity, Chris Lawrence was that way,'' Sheens said. ''You know by looking at them and watching their form in lower grades that they've got the ability. Some stand up, some don't. Some stay long-term, some don't. But generally you can pick them and the good kids don't stay in the lower grades very long.''

Tedesco, who started last year playing SG Ball, grabbed Sheens' attention with an impressive finish to the Toyota Cup, where he was crowned the Tigers' under 20s player of the year.

One of Tedesco's biggest challenges in his maiden season in the top grade will be shouting orders at an experienced team packed with superstars. While Sheens conceded the Camden junior still had to develop his communication, he put the onus on his senior players to take extra responsibility and minimise the burden on Tedesco's shoulders.

''I've got an experienced side up front, they should be able to instruct themselves around the park,'' Sheens said. '''Teddy' knows he's got to improve in that area and talk more, but I'm just concerned about him getting his own game together and not worry too much about what's happening up front. We're not a rookie team.''

Robert Lui's departure to North Queensland forced Sheens to reshuffle his team in the off-season, with fullback Moltzen moved into the halves alongside Marshall. But Sheens insists there will be minimal changes in the style of attack the Tigers adopt, backing Tedesco to slot straight into the role Moltzen played so well last year.

''Teddy's got plenty going for him,'' Sheens said. ''He's similar to Timmy in the fact they both support well, they're quick, and they've got an instinct for the game … I think he's up to handling the start of our season.''