Campo’s Corner: James Tedesco is rapidly becoming a New South Wales legend
James Tedesco has only played in 10 Origin matches but he is quickly beginning to walk with the legends of New South Wales. Nick Campton explains why and reviews all the action from the decider.
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Because the Blues were under Queensland’s heel for so long you’re hard pressed to find many players from recent times who can be discussed among the best New South Wales players of the Origin era.
Paul Gallen is one of the few, as is Jarryd Hayne. Greg Bird and Robbie Farah could sneak in depending on how you felt about him. Other guys had a game or a series in which they starred – shout out Trent Hodkinson, who I will always fight for, never forget 2014 – but there’s nobody that would contend for an all time Blues 17.
That’s starting to change now with the Blues winning two series in a row. James Maloney, the best Blues half since Andrew Johns, is up there with any of them. Damien Cook is rapidly making up ground on Danny Buderus and Ben Elias, although he still has some way to go.
But one player is already there, already in the conversation as a starter in a best ever Blues side and unless you’ve been hiding under a rock with your fingers in you ears and pretending Origin III finished after 79 minutes and 30 seconds you know who I’m talking about – James Tedesco.
It’s a weighty thing to say of Tedesco, who has played 10 matches in sky blue and three full series, but he has kicked the door down and forced his way into the conversation. Rugby league is addicted to recency bias but the facts, and the performances, speak for themselves.
He has three challengers – Anthony Minichiello, Tim Brasher and Garry Jack, who all had Origin careers to be proud of (Jarryd Hayne’s performances in 2014 should enter legend, but he only played six games in total at fullback for the Blues and that’s not enough for all time status).
Brasher in particular is a forgotten Origin legend, the state’s most capped fullback and a stalwart of the Blues glory days in the 90s, winning five of the seven series he played.
They all have more matches to their name than Tedesco, but the younger man’s resume can already stand alongside the lot.
Many were aggrieved by the baffling decision to award Billy Slater the Wally Lewis Medal last year but Tedesco should have been the most put out – he was superb across all three matches, an 11/10 in the series opener at the MCG some said, and claimed the Brad Fittler medal as the Blues player of the series.
By rights, he should have back to back player of the series medals, a feat which, for all their series wins and dominance, no Queenslander could ever achieve.
But let us dive into the exemplary three matches he put together this year, including the Messianic man of the match display he pulled off in the decider. The best weapon the Blues have, the best they’ve had in years, is Tedesco and Cook pushing up the middle. It cannot be completely stopped, only temporarily contained and the Blues don’t win these past two series without it.
In the decider Tedesco made the break that got the Blues into the Queensland 20 ahead of the Paul Vaughan try. He scored their second when there wasn’t much on, just because he accelerated at the line and drove through with quickness and strength.
Much like Origin I, where he set up a try for Josh Morris off a similar pattern, there was very little on for Tedesco, maybe a sliver of space that would rapidly disappear. But Tedesco’s speed and decisiveness allowed him to take that advantage, to score a crucial try.
And, of course, he was on hand to score the winner in the final seconds, pushing up in the middle like he always, always does. The Tedesco way is to run the ball no question, and such players have always done well in Origin.
Tedesco’s speed is his greatest gift and he has built himself into a powerful runner but the reason he always seems to be involved and never drifts out of the game is because he always pushes up the centre, his support play and willingness to push up around the ruck.
He touches the ball so often, trails his forwards with such eagerness and is so willing to back up again and again and again, just in case something happens, just in case there’s a chance to be had.
Nine times nothing might happen but the 10th time, when it does happen, Tedesco will be there. His impact is relentless because there is no peak or valley, it is constant and unyielding. If a player runs the ball 20 times a game he is more likely, through sheer weight of numbers, to have a hand in something good.
Here’s what Tedesco has put together this series – two tries, 659 metres gained (the most by any Blue in a series), 18 tackle busts, seven line breaks and three try assists. But more than the stat sheet was the magnitude of the moments in which he forced the game to be his – like the two tries he set up in Perth, the hammer blows that took the game beyond Queensland’s reach, or the first try in the decider that kicked the Blues into gear after halftime or, of course, the try that won the damn series.
His final stat line is mind-bending – 19 runs, 222 run metres, 10 tackle busts, four line-breaks and two tries.
Add that to his brilliant display in the first two matches of the 2017 series – if not for Andrew Fifita he would have been the easy choice for man of the match in the Blues victory in Game I – and his aforementioned brilliance last year and that’s a run that Minichiello, Brasher and Jack may not be able to match. Even when he doesn’t claim best on ground, Tedesco is always in the conversation. Simply put, he is the best player who can play Origin, maybe the best player in rugby league full stop. Could that ever be said about Minichiello, Brasher and Jack, as good as they were?
At the time of writing I have Tedesco ahead of Minichiello and Jack. Minichiello helped spear the Blues to their last pre-Streak run of success and was particularly good in the 2003 and 2005 series victories and Jack helped bring the modern fullback style to the Origin arena, but Tedesco’s walk with history in the decider has him in front. Perhaps if back injuries did not cost Minichiello a few years of his prime the call would be closer but as it stands the apprentice has become the master.
“THE FLYING TIM BRASHER.â€
— Rugby League Best Tries Hits and Biffs (@NBiffs) October 7, 2018
Tim Brasher scores a great solo try for the Blues. Off a great Laurie Daley pass.#NSW #blues #stateoforigin #nrl #solo #try #solotry #classic #great #rugbyleague #football #speed #footwork #oldschool #awesome #howgoodisthis pic.twitter.com/RoH0EzUIcx
Brasher (or to address him by his proper title The Flying Tim Brasher) a forgotten Blues legend, still holds a narrow lead. Few would argue Tedesco is the superior player overall – Brasher was a gifted footballer but he was never the best player in the world – but the longevity of Brasher’s success in Origin football is quite something. He was the starting fullback for five series wins and won two man of the match awards along the way.
Brasher played in some of the Blues greatest victories, like the 1994 decider and the 56-16 whooping in 2000. He is still the best fullback the Blues have ever had in Origin. But Tedesco is just getting started really – for all the things he has done he’s still only played in three full series. There is still so much the pride of Camden can do and Brasher may not hold the crown for much longer.
PEARCE PLAYS HIS PART
There was plenty of reaction to last week’s column, which questioned Mitchell Pearce’s Origin record and the circumstances of his recall. Some had a confidence in the recalled halfback that I could not share and they were rewarded for their faith with a Blues victory in Origin III.
For the most part, Pearce endured a tough old night - he couldn’t stamp himself on the match and his kicking game left much to be desired.
But he got involved in the final seconds and helped engineer the winning try with a fine pass to Tom Trbojevic that got the whole thing started - given the greatest criticism of Pearce’s Origin career is that he couldn’t get the job done in the big moments that’s a fair feather in his cap and moment to be proud of.
He might not have had the man of the match display many were predicting, but he played a vital part in the winning of the game and nobody can ask for more than that.
Let the word go forth across the land – nobody, and I mean nobody, beats Mitchell Pearce eight times in a row.
WHY DIDN’T CHERRY FIRE?
Daly Cherry-Evans is a noted field goal kicker for Manly. He has nailed some beauties for the Sea Eagles – off his other foot, in howling gales, from 30 or 40 metres out in golden point. In the last three season he’s won four games with field goals. Whatever faults Cherry-Evans has as a player he has never, ever been afraid of putting the game on his own boot.
That’s why, in the final seconds of Origin III, I was certain Cherry-Evans would take the shot for glory. It was a slow play the ball from Moses Mbye and Queensland were not properly set up for the shot, but even so – given Cherry-Evans’ field goal pedigree is was astounding he didn’t fire one off.
It can be explained away – Cherry-Evans didn’t want to give away a seven tackle set that could maybe have given the Blues the chance to win with a field goal of their own in the closing seconds. Having said that, given the amount of time left it’s doubtful the Blues could have gotten closer than 35 metres, a tough ask even for a kicker as gifted as James Maloney.
That’s a lot for anyone to process in the split second Cherry-Evans had to make the decision, but it’s an equation he’s gotten right so many times before. From the sounds of things, he felt like he didn’t have enough time - but he also seems to carry some regrets.
It would have been a 37 or 38 metre kick but he’s kicked them before and has never feared failure. If he’d taken it and missed nobody would have though any less of him.
OTHER ORIGIN STUFF
• Cameron Munster might be the best five-eighth in the NRL and one of the best two or three fullbacks at the same time. Given he’s been in the halves for a few seasons now it was natural for people to forget how capable he was at the back (remember he played there for 18 months in 2015-16 when Billy Slater was injured) but his battle of the wills with Tedesco last night was incredible. His busy, run-first style translates so well to Origin but this may be the last time we see him at fullback for a while – as good as he was, Melbourne need him at five-eighth more.
• The Blues bench middles were all excellent and helped wrest the ascendancy away from Queensland but special mention must go to Dale Finucane, the king of strong style. For so long Finucane was counted as one of the types who was made for Origin, a loathsome cliche to be sure but it rings true.
In 40 minutes he ran for 96 metres (the third most of any Blues forward) and helped lock up the middle after Queensland poured it on early. He is all effort and physicality all the time and should be a Blue for many seasons to come.
Cam Murray should also get many plaudits given his impact off the bench – he is a fiend for one-on-one strips and it absolutely rules. After poor use of the bench cost the Blues dearly in Origin I Fittler righted the ship and used his subs well. Queensland are just one forward short at present - Joe Ofahengaue, Josh McGuire, Josh Papalii and Christian Welch were all strong, but unless Kevin Walters is willing to load up on minutes for his starters they need to find one more big man to share the load.
• In any other game Damien Cook’s individual try would have been the play of the match and it seems wrong it’s taken so long to fully discuss his impact.
Beyond the try, which I doubt any other hooker in the world could have scored, he also got the Blues on the board with a smart short pass to Paul Vaughan and it felt dangerous every time he came out of dummy half.
He is a very different sort of dummy half to Cameron Smith, more of a sniper than a supercomputer, but once the Melbourne master hangs them up (if he ever does) Cook has proven time and again he’s a worthy successor.
• It had been some time since we were treated to a truly classic decider and none in history has finished in such dramatic fashion.
Emotions are still running high in the aftermath of the decider but it immediately enters the ranks of greatest ever Origin matches of recent years – right now I would say it’s one of the three best Origin games of the decade, along with the 2012 decider and the 2014 series opener.
How the match is regarded historically will only be decided in time but this was the kind of game that makes legends, the kind of game that will live as long as rugby league is played.
GOLDEN HOMBRE
Is there anything more thrilling than when a big man gets into the clear and attempts an ill-advised dummy, or perhaps a chip kick?
Is there anything greater than when a large lad decides the time has come for him to show the world the ball skills he knows lurk deep within?
Is there anything that lifts the spirit more than a hefty fellow crashing across the stripe for his second NRL try in his 179th first grade match?
I say no, and to honour these big fellas each and every week of the year, which many have dubbed #BigManSeason, we hand out The Golden Hombre, named after Todd Payten, the biggest halfback God ever created.
The Origin series had been devoid of truly classic big man moments but the decider proved it was worth the wait – Ethan Lowe, who was terrific on debut, playing his typical rugged, hard-nosed footy while also kicking goals from all over the place including one to level the scores in the final minutes no less, shares this week’s award with Josh Papalii.
The Canberra prop has been one of Queensland’s best forwards for the last couple of years but it feels like people are only getting wise to his prowess now – he was the best forward on the field when he was on and his well deserved try was Hombre footy at it’s finest.
Lowe, like Finucane, has been ready for Origin football for several seasons and it was great to see him take to it so well. It remains unclear why North Queensland let him and the more South Sydney can get him on the field the better. Matt Gillett will have to lift to get his jersey back.
The NRL seems to shrink after Origin games like this but it would be remiss of me not to mention Sam Lisone scoring the winning try for the Warriors against Newcastle last weekend. More game-winning tries to prop forwards will bring the punters back through the gates.
Originally published as Campo’s Corner: James Tedesco is rapidly becoming a New South Wales legend
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