Ben Glover FOX SPORTS March 18, 2014 1:14PM
Robbie Farah tells rival NRL clubs to stay away from in-demand Tigers youngster James Tedesco
Tedesco has started the 2014 season in hot form after his promising career hit a speedbump early last season when he suffered a serious knee injury.
After recovering from a knee reconstruction, Tedesco has clearly rediscovered his electric speed.
He was one of the outstanding players at the Auckland Nines and has kicked off the season with two tries in two weeks, linking impressively with fellow Tigers young gun Luke Brooks.
The fullback's hot form comes at the right time for his own career, with the shop window wide open as he comes off contract at the end of this season.
Speaking exclusively to Fox Sports News on Tuesday, Tedesco revealed his future was unclear - his manager Sam Ayoub scouring the market to get an idea of what clubs might be interested.
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“I’m not sure at the moment. I haven’t really discussed much at the moment, I’m leaving it with Sammy Ayoub, my manager, and he’s taking care of things at the moment,” Tedesco said.
“I’m just worrying about footy and leaving that behind. I’m not letting that get to me. I’m just focusing on my footy and training hard and getting ready for next week.
“I’m a Wests junior so I grew up through the Wests ranks - SG Ball and Harold Matthews Cup - and Wests Tigers as a club.
“I’d definitely love to stay here, I’ve got a lot of good mates at the club, so we’ll just have to wait to see how the contract negotiations go.”
It is understood Tedesco is high on the Bulldogs list to succeed former Dally M Player of the Year Ben Barba after the Belmore club failed to replace the Broncos’ new ace before this season.
However, with Andrew Fifita joining the Dogs on a big money deal last week, and James Graham signing an upgraded four year contract, it is unclear how much money Des Hasler has left to throw at a fullback.
The Tigers have also got some big decisions to make with Tedesco’s fellow star cubs David Nofoaluma and Marika Koroibete also coming off contract.
In an interview for Fox Sports show Monday Night with Matty Johns, Farah joked that Tedesco’s re-signing was such a high priority, it would cause “big problems” between the star hooker and the manager he shares with Tedesco, Ayoub, if the fullback was allowed to leave.
“Any time there’s a quality player out on the market there’s going to be people chasing him,” Farah said.
“But look, he’s a local junior, he’s a player we want to keep, and I know the club will be doing everything they can to keep him.
“It’s fair to say I’ll be in Sammy’s (Sam Ayoub) ear and if James does leave there’ll be big problems between me and Sammy.”
LINK: http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/robbie-farah-tells-rival-nrl-clubs-to-stay-away-from-indemand-tigers-youngster-james-tedesco/story-fn2mcuj6-1226858053438
