Crawley Files: Why Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has James Tedesco’s measure

Here’s a debate to have around the barbecue. Pick your world NRL team on form this year — and Paul Crawley kicks off the argument by overlooking James Tedesco.

Roosters' James Tedesco on a break during the NRL Anzac Day match between the Sydney Roosters and St. George-Illawarra Dragons at the SCG. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Here’s a debate to have around the barbecue.

Pick your World XIII on form this year — and I will kick off the argument by naming Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at fullback.

I know Trent Robinson rates James Tedesco the game’s best player. But as exceptional as Tedesco’s form is, there isn’t much more the reigning Dally M Medal winner could do to state his case.

Artwork: Scott “Boo” Bailey.

While you wouldn’t lose either way, I‘d still have the Warriors skipper wearing No.1.

In a team that again has been one of this season’s disappointments, Tuivasa-Sheck’s form has been as breathtaking as Tedesco’s, even if it is too often overlooked as a direct result of the inconsistency that surrounds him.

In fact, heading into Round 7 Fox Sports Stats shows that in almost every key indicator the Warriors’ excitement machine is not only holding his own against Tedesco, Tuivasa-Sheck is actually outpointing the marks set by the flying Roosters fullback.

In six games before this round, Tuivasa-Sheck has one less try than Tedesco but is averaging more possessions, more runs, more metres, more tackle busts, more linebreaks, as many linebreak assists and more try assists — all in a team that has won just two games.

We can only imagine how good Tuivasa-Sheck would look if he was also playing in a star-studded champion team.

James Tedesco on the charge for the Roosters. Picture: Phil Hillyard

PAUL CRAWLEY’S CURRENT WORLD XIII

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

2. David Fusitu’a

3. Latrell Mitchell

4. Joseph Manu

5. Blake Ferguson

6. Cameron Munster

7: Luke Keary

8. Sam Burgess

9. Josh Hodgson

10. Andrew Fifita

11. John Bateman

12. Tyson Frizell

13. Jason Taumalolo

Foot note: Cameron Smith was left out because he has retired from rep footy. For mine, he is still the game’s most influential player.

Originally published as Crawley Files: Why Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has James Tedesco’s measure