NRL 2024: James Tedesco still in running to play for Kangaroos | Sport Confidential
James Tedesco may have been overlooked for selection in the NSW Blues but he still has a fan in Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga. See the full SPORT CONFIDENTIAL.
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Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has left the door ajar for James Tedesco to retain the Australian No.1 jersey and captaincy, insisting he will take into account form and loyalty when he sits down to select the national side later in the year.
Meninga, who played a decisive role in Tedesco being appointed Kangaroos skipper two years ago, revealed he had spoken to the Sydney Roosters star in the wake of his axing from the NSW side for the opening game of the State of Origin series.
Penrith star Dylan Edwards was preferred at fullback by Blues coach Michael Maguire while Jake Trbojevic will take over as captain. Still, it may not mean the end of Tedesco’s career for the Kangaroos after Meninga warned against writing off the 31-year-old.
“I spoke to him (Tedesco),” Meninga said.
“I think he has shown a lot of humility in all this. Dylan Edwards has earned the right – so you can’t argue with that fact.
“But it doesn’t mean too much at all to be honest with you. We will be picking on form and loyalty and not so much on the future.
“That’s how I think representative teams should be picked. It’s not about the future – it’s about the here and now.
“I won’t write him (Tedesco) off – do it at your own peril.”
Regardless, the Australian No.1 jersey is now up for grabs given Tedesco is unlikely to play any part in the Origin arena.
While Edwards has usurped him for a Blues jersey, Meninga made note of the other contenders when it comes to the green and gold.
“You have some other guys – (Reece) Walsh and (Kalyn) Ponga,” Meninga said.
“Paps (Ryan Papenhuyzen) will be back soon.”
ROOSTERS PREPARE POACHING RAID FOR KNIGHTS REVELATION
The Roosters are trying to sign exciting young fullback David Armstrong from the Knights with Newcastle desperate to retain the flyer.
Armstrong has caught the eye of a host of clubs after starring as he filled in for the injured Kalyn Ponga in recent weeks. His timing could not be better with the 23-year-old off-contract at the end of the season.
The Knights have put in an offer to keep Armstrong and remain confident that he wants to remain in Newcastle. The challenge for both clubs is that there is no natural starting spot in the No.1 jersey with Ponga and James Tedesco the respective first choice fullbacks.
Complicating the matter has been a lack of clarity too in who is managing Armstrong with multiple agents having acted on his behalf at one time. Now that issue has been resolved, expect Armstrong to make a decision.
THE DOLPHIN BENNETT PLANS TO MAKE A RABBITOH
Wayne Bennett has promised not to ravage the Dolphins roster but there are plans to have at least one player to join him at South Sydney next year.
The Rabbitohs are in discussions about Euan Aitken following Bennett to South Sydney on a multi-year deal from 2025. We’re not quite going to call him the Darius Boyd equivalent but Bennett has always had a few players follow him when he moves clubs. Boyd was no doubt the highest profile who spent time at Brisbane, Newcastle and the Dragons under Bennett’s watch. But others including Nick Emmett, Beau Scott, Alex McKinnon, Jaydn Su’A, Jeremy Smith and Mark Nicholls are among those to have followed Bennett from club to club in recent years.
The Dolphins salary cap and roster spots are getting tight with the club intimating they could only potentially keep Aitken on a one year-contract.
At 28 the former Dragon and Warrior is keen on inking a longer-team deal. He is now in talks with South Sydney about joining Bennett at the club from next season. Bennett said earlier this month that he had no plans to raid the Dolphins.
“I won’t be taking any of their kids that they want to keep,” he said.
“That’s not going to happen. I didn’t build this club to try and destroy it.
“If there is a guy that they are not offering a contract to or he is looking to go somewhere else and I think he can play a bit, then that will be a different thing, but I want all these players to stay.” Aitken’s situation fits that mould.
Aitken has been a valued member of Bennett’s Dolphins team with only Jamayne Isaako and Isaiya Katoa playing more games for the club since their inception last year.
Aitken’s versatility makes him an asset in any squad.
The Rabbitohs remain focused on rejigging their roster but as yet the only player who has been granted permission to leave the club while contracted is Lachie Ilias. They have brought in halfback Lewis Dodd from England.
FLASHBACK
Former NSW hooker Benny Elias made headlines on this day 30 years ago. Elias was forced into an emergency X-ray in a bid to make himself available to play against Queensland with fears he had a broken hand. The scans revealed no fracture with Elias able to take his spot in the team. “I really didn’t know what the X-ray would show,” Elias said. “But what I did know was that if my hand was broken my career in representative football was over.”
KNIGHTS MAKE PLAY FOR DOLPHINS RECRUITMENT GURU
Newcastle have made a play to sign recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan who is likely to leave the Dolphins at the end of the season.
It is understood that O’Sullivan is now in the process of deciding if he will return to his former club St George Illawarra or link up with the Knights in a bid to push them towards a premiership title.
What is clear though is that the man largely responsible for building up the Dolphins roster is unlikely to be at the club next season.
Both Newcastle and St George Illawarra have tried to woo O’Sullivan in recent weeks. He is considered the game’s best talent spotter.
The job at St George Illawarra is much tougher but he has links to the club having started his career at the Dragons.
Newcastle has its own appeal with that roster much closer to premiership success.
SHARKS LOCK DOWN STAR FORWARD
Cronulla have locked down emerging prop Tom Hazelton for at least another 12 months and have had discussions about extending him out long-term.
Hazelton has been a revelation for the Sharks in the past two years but his game has evolved even more this year. At 25, he is a late bloomer but the Sharks want to keep him at the club despite the impending arrival of Addin Fonua-Blake. The Sharks have taken up an option they had in their favour to keep Hazelton at the club in 2025. With that deal locked away, they are now in talks to try and keep Hazelton at the club long-term.
The Sharks are in the midst of contract talks with a host of players including Jack Williams and Kayal Iro.
A host of clubs have reached out to gauge the possibility of the Sharks having to move contracted players given they splashed out the case for Fonua-Blake.
Dale Finucane’s sudden retirement has helped ease some salary cap pressure but that has not stopped the prospect of rivals believing they may still need to shed a player.
TIGERS STAR SUFFERS INJURY SETBACK
The Tigers’ season has gone from bad to worse with Kiwi forward Isaiah Papali’i having an operation to repair a badly damaged ankle.
Papali’i went under the knife earlier this week with the injury now expected to sideline the back-rower for at least two months.
Papali’i was caught awkwardly by Valentine Holmes during the Tigers last start loss to the Cowboys. Holmes was sin-binned and hit with just an $1800 fine – freeing him to take his place for Queensland.
Papali’I’s injury came just days after he made the shock decision to leave the Tigers with 12 months left on his contract and join Penrith from next season.
The Tigers – who have the bye this week – are again parked towards the bottom of the premiership ladder.
The Tigers are already without David Klemmer for the next three games because of suspension and John Bateman is out indefinitely because of a pectoral injury.
Meanwhile, Penrith captain Isaac Yeo has praised the club’s decision to sign Papali’i next season, having missed out in their big-money chase of Gold Coast superstar David Fifita.
“I think it probably came out of the blue a little bit,” Yeo said.
“Obviously we tried for Fifita and we made that pretty obvious. We have been in the market and he (Papali’i) will do a wonderful job for us.
“You see how hard he works but there are those little moments of brilliance where he can change a game as well.
“Super excited for him to be part of it. Excited for the club – he will be good. When we are seeing him at his best he has the ability to change the game and be one of the elite back rowers in the comp.”
PANTHERS SET TO APPLY FOR SALARY CAP RELIEF
Penrith are expected to have even more money to spend as they prepare to apply for salary cap dispensation in the wake of Taylan May being stood down by the NRL over domestic violence-related charges.
The Panthers are expected to investigate signing a replacement for May, although they can afford to take their time given Paul Alamoti has been a revelation in the centres.
Sport Con understands they have already been contacted by a host of player managers offering options in the outside backs.
Don’t be surprised if St George Illawarra and NSW winger Zac Lomax appears on their radar. Lomax is leaving the Dragons at the end of the season and coach Shane Flanagan could clear some salary cap space by allowing him to depart early.
While the Dragons remain in finals contention, Flanagan is likely to dig in his heels. Should the Dragons start to lose touch with the top eight, things may change.
The Panthers are in no rush, so they can sit back and watch how things develop. Penrith have form for big-name mid-season signings.
Three years ago they signed Tevita Pangai Junior on a three-months deal after he was cut loose by the Brisbane Broncos.
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