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Tedesco the Tigers' long-term NRL No.1
April 26, 2013 - 5:11PM
Joe Barton
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Far from being a catastrophe, the Wests Tigers are looking at the silver lining to their crippling injury toll - the emergence of the man destined to be their long-term NRL fullback.
Lengthy injuries to halves Benji Marshall (toe) and Braith Anasta (groin) have forced fullback Tim Moltzen into the No.7 jersey for Saturday's clash with Brisbane at Campbelltown Stadium.
That has opened the door for talented youngster James Tedesco to slide into the custodian role - one captain Robbie Farah feels he is destined to hold on to.
"He's our long-term fullback option. I don't hide that fact," Farah said on Friday.
"He's gonna be a great player but we're just giving him a bit of time.
"… Now he's got that fullback jersey, hopefully he can make it his own and stay there for the long term."
Tedesco has been eased back into first grade this season after missing all but the opening 30 minutes of his debut season in 2012 when he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
But after three NRL games featuring mainly on the wing this season, Tedesco was called up to the City Origin team last week for his first representative jersey.
Farah said the 20-year-old had returned a more confident player.
It certainly doesn't appear likely that coach Mick Potter will be able to hold the lively youngster back any longer.
"It's not easy to come back from a knee reconstruction that he went through last year," Farah said.
"The coach has been holding him back a bit - gave him a few games in reserve grade and then on the wing."
Farah admitted the constant reshuffling of the halves and fullback spot, a problem which plagued the Tigers throughout last year as well, was tough - but Potter was less concerned.
"It's a little difficult but it's not like the players haven't played together and it's not like they haven't done a lot of pre-season in those combinations," Potter said.
"... It's not catastrophic. It's a good test for us."
Potter said the club's long-term combinations weren't set in stone, and hinted players sidelined through injury might be worried about holding onto their spots.
"You don't take it for granted that you're going to be an NRL player," he said.
"I'm sure some of these injured players would be a bit worried if our guys start to kick along that it might take a bit of time to get back or they'll never get back."
Meanwhile, the Tigers announced winger Pat Richards would return to the club next season from Wigan on a two-year deal.
Richards, who will be 33 by the start of next season, won the 2010 Man of Steel award, given to the best player in the English Super League.
Richards had two seasons for the Tigers, scoring a memorable try in the Tigers' 2005 premiership win.
April 26, 2013 - 5:11PM
Joe Barton
\
\
Far from being a catastrophe, the Wests Tigers are looking at the silver lining to their crippling injury toll - the emergence of the man destined to be their long-term NRL fullback.
Lengthy injuries to halves Benji Marshall (toe) and Braith Anasta (groin) have forced fullback Tim Moltzen into the No.7 jersey for Saturday's clash with Brisbane at Campbelltown Stadium.
That has opened the door for talented youngster James Tedesco to slide into the custodian role - one captain Robbie Farah feels he is destined to hold on to.
"He's our long-term fullback option. I don't hide that fact," Farah said on Friday.
"He's gonna be a great player but we're just giving him a bit of time.
"… Now he's got that fullback jersey, hopefully he can make it his own and stay there for the long term."
Tedesco has been eased back into first grade this season after missing all but the opening 30 minutes of his debut season in 2012 when he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
But after three NRL games featuring mainly on the wing this season, Tedesco was called up to the City Origin team last week for his first representative jersey.
Farah said the 20-year-old had returned a more confident player.
It certainly doesn't appear likely that coach Mick Potter will be able to hold the lively youngster back any longer.
"It's not easy to come back from a knee reconstruction that he went through last year," Farah said.
"The coach has been holding him back a bit - gave him a few games in reserve grade and then on the wing."
Farah admitted the constant reshuffling of the halves and fullback spot, a problem which plagued the Tigers throughout last year as well, was tough - but Potter was less concerned.
"It's a little difficult but it's not like the players haven't played together and it's not like they haven't done a lot of pre-season in those combinations," Potter said.
"... It's not catastrophic. It's a good test for us."
Potter said the club's long-term combinations weren't set in stone, and hinted players sidelined through injury might be worried about holding onto their spots.
"You don't take it for granted that you're going to be an NRL player," he said.
"I'm sure some of these injured players would be a bit worried if our guys start to kick along that it might take a bit of time to get back or they'll never get back."
Meanwhile, the Tigers announced winger Pat Richards would return to the club next season from Wigan on a two-year deal.
Richards, who will be 33 by the start of next season, won the 2010 Man of Steel award, given to the best player in the English Super League.
Richards had two seasons for the Tigers, scoring a memorable try in the Tigers' 2005 premiership win.
