State of Origin: NSW captain James Tedesco hits back after criticism of Game I performance

James Tedesco has responded to critics of his performance in the opening game of this year’s State of Origin series. Plus, Dean Ritchie on why bagging the NSW captain is “foolhardy”.

Tyson Frizell is adamant the ball touched the ground despite not being awarded a try.

NSW captain James Tedesco has admitted failing to “ice” key moments in his side’s gut-wrenching State of Origin loss before firing a barb back at critics by declaring: “I can’t be perfect.”

Tedesco was the target of immense and scathing condemnation on all social media platforms following NSW’s late collapse in Queensland a 26-18 win on Wednesday night in Adelaide.

In a performance he described as “disappointing”, Tedesco was caught out of position for Hamiso Tabuia-Fidow’s first try, slipped over for Tabuia-Fidow’s second, missed a tackle which allowed Selwyn Cobbo to score and was out-lept by Lindsay Collins for Cam Munster’s match sealing try.

“The last (try), having a front-rower jumping over you, he’d most likely like that time again,” said NSW coach Brad Fittler.

There was a Twitter and Facebook pile-on blaming Tedesco for the defeat with many suggesting Latrell Mitchell should be named fullback for Origin II or Penrith’s Dylan Edwards.

Teddy getting outjumped by Lindsay Collins.

I've seen enough. #Origin

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) May 31, 2023

Seventy per cent of respondents to a News Corp online poll opted for Mitchell over Tedesco as fullback in Brisbane.

Tedesco was honest yet despondent post-match, saying: “I can’t be perfect but I am the captain so I’ve got to lead by example.

“I didn’t ice or nail my moments so that’s on me, yeah. I don’t care about other people’s opinions but I know that myself.

“I don’t need to look at social media to see that.

“I know I can do better and know I have to nail those, especially in crucial parts of the game.

“I hold myself to high standards so it’s disappointing. I probably won’t look at social media.

“We weren’t at our best and we still probably should have won. We had the game right there. It’s not like we were miles off. We let the game slip.”

NSW teammates have defended James Tedesco after Game I.

In a comment suggesting there will be no internal finger-pointing after the loss, Tedesco said: “We will stick together.”

Fittler didn’t agree with the criticism but said Tedesco would always be open to heavy scrutiny.

“When you’re touted as the best in the game, that’s what happens,” Fittler said. “When you’re considered one of the best, there’s not much movement. There is an expectation of excellence every week.

“Teddy is the one to ask. The last one, having a front-rower jumping over you, he’d most likely like that time again.

“But Teddy never stops trying. Good thing I’m not on social media, maybe Teddy’s not either.

“Right at the present time, he deserves a bit of support, because he has most probably earned that. That’s where it’s at.”

Hudson Young, Josh Addo-Carr, Nathan Cleary and James Tedesco before the start of this year’s State of Origin series.

NSW teammates were quick to defend their skipper.

“What he does for Origin, people forget pretty quickly about his resume,” said Blues star Jarome Luai. “Man, Teddy is one of the best players out there every game and he has my full support.

“He’s our captain for a reason and he’s always there when the times are tough - and when times are good. I have full belief in my skipper.

“That’s their (critics) job, man, to critique everything. They get paid to do what they do so that comes with the territory.”

Blues forward Hudson Young said Tedesco would hit back.

“Everyone on social media is always going to have a say, mate, but we back Teddy to the hilt,” Young said.

“I thought he played terrific. There were just a few moments in the last ten minutes that we didn’t ice and we’ve got to get it right at Suncorp.”

And NSW forward Liam Martin added: “Footy’s not a one-person game. I think we all missed moments. I thought Teddy had a pretty incredible night.

“The responsibility is on all of us. Teddy leaves nothing out there, he just rips in and leads from the front. I can’t speak highly enough of him. We’re all disappointed and I’m sure he will be especially.”

Tedesco is brought down by Pat Carrigan.

COMMENT: TEDDY DESERVES SO MUCH BETTER THAN ORIGIN PILE-ON

Dean Ritchie

One poor game and we now throw them out onto the grubby sidewalk. Is that what it’s come to in NSW?

Here we have James Tedesco, one of the most decorated players in rugby league’s 115-year history being ridiculed and mocked by vitriolic online criticism.

A man who has won two NRL premierships, been a NSW player for eight years, represented Australia and led his state and country.

Should I continue?

He has also claimed the Dally M Medal, Brad Fittler Medal, Jack Gibson Medal, Wally Lewis Medal, Harry Sunderland Medal and Players’ Champion Award.

Referee Ashley Klein speaks to James Tedesco.

Yet he is treated with disdain and disrespect after one indifferent game for NSW in Adelaide.

Sure, Teddy’s performance was substandard given the lofty levels he has consistently attained.

But surely one low-grade performance isn’t enough to discard a true champion of rugby league.

How quickly we forget past heroics in this new age of decreasing attention spans.

As a journalist, we call out and identify underwhelming on-field efforts.

But it’s important to take a solid breath at times, ponder and pontificate before exploding into print with emotional and ill-considered outbursts.

Tedesco was targeted by trolls after his Game I performance.

That’s where social media trolls let themselves down. I couldn’t believe some of the posts I read about Tedesco.

I interviewed Tedesco post game and revealed he was being hammered on Twitter and Facebook.

“I probably won’t look at social media,” he said.

It impacts on even the best.

James Tedesco didn’t deserve what was hurled at him. He is allowed one bad game. He is human.

Bagging a true great was unjustified and foolhardy.

FRIZELL: ‘THE BALL HIT THE GROUND’

David Riccio

Blues forward Tyson Frizell is adamant he scored a legitimate try which could have proven the difference in NSW clinching the series-opener.

Instead, NSW are down 1-0 nil in the Origin series after going down 26-18 and face the daunting task of squaring the ledger against Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on June 21.

Trailing the Maroons 10-0 nil in the first-half on Wednesday night, the Blues appeared to have capitalised on a mountain of possession when Frizell produced a trademark crash and bash run towards the tryline.

The Newcastle backrower sent his teammates into raptures in the 23rd minute when he seemingly forced the football over the try line amid a desperate and courageous try-saving tackle from Queensland centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

Tyson Frizell is adamant the ball touched the ground despite not being awarded a try.

Referee Ashley Klein sent Frizell’s excited appeal to the bunker as a no-try, believing the Maroons centre had got his hands under the ball without it ever touching the in-goal.

Multiple replays by the bunker determined that there was insufficient evidence to overturn Klein’s on-field decision.

However, Frizell said he scored the try.

“I thought I got it (football) down. I’m not just saying it,’’ Frizell said.

“I looked at the first replay and started walking back because I thought we’d be shooting for a goal.

“Once I went over the ball hit the ground.

“I’m not too sure what the comms (communication) were from the bunker, but I’m sure I got there.’’

One of the most senior Blues players, Frizell said he and his teammates shook-off the no-try ruling to keep coming at Queensland.

He said the Adelaide series-opener was a game NSW should’ve won.

“We clawed our way back fairly well after a tough 10 to 15-minutes in the first-half,’’ Frizell said.

“A little moment in the second-half potentially cost us with their short drop-out, they were too good in the end.

“You can be in front and have all the momentum. But it only takes one moment to change it.

“They marched up the field and they got the job done.

“That’s Origin. It’s not over until the siren goes.

“You’re never safe.’’

Frizell added that he was eager for the challenge of seeking revenge against the Maroons on their home turf.

Asked how NSW would respond, Frizell said: “We go up there and get a win. It’s going to be a different route for us.

“I’m not going to lie, it is tough up there, but there’s no reason why we can’t.

“It will be all sweeter going up there and getting the win and then coming back home for the decider.

“That’s a challenge I’m looking forward to.

“Hopefully I stay fit, play well and get myself back in the side to help these guys do a job up there.

FILTHY: PANGAI OPENS UP ON GAME-CHANGING ERROR

A shattered Tevita Pangai Jr has taken himself to task for a crucial error that he hopes doesn’t cost him a shot at revenge against Queensland.

The Blues debutant says he’s desperate for a NSW Origin recall and will start by leading Canterbury on Sunday.

Pangai played the opening 20 minutes before being replaced by Liam Martin and returned to the fray in the 51st minute.

However, he was taken off nine minutes later after conceding a penalty, losing the ball through an unnecessary offload and missing a tackle as Maroons winger Selwyn Cobbo crossed for his second try in Queensland’s 26-18 win.

Tevita Pangai Junior cost the Blues with an offload that went wrong. Picture: Getty Images

There was no one Blues player more critical of his performance inside the NSW dressing room post-match.

“I’m really disappointed, but I’ll just work hard to get picked in game two and go from there,’’ Pangai Jr said.

“I made some crucial errors. Particularly, the offload.

“That one was crucial. They scored off that error.

“I was pretty filthy at myself. You can’t make errors coming out of yardage.

“When you’ve got a team like Queensland, we want them to spend minimal time on our line.

“Origin is won in moments and I look at what I did wrong and that was crucial.

“When you’re up by two, it’s all about arse up, head down and play the ball.’’

Tevita Pangai Junior fends away David Fifita. Picture: Getty Images

Even more disheartening for the debutant was that Pangai Jr admitted he had watched replays of the Blues 2022 Origin III loss to remind himself of what not to do on the game’s biggest stage.

“I watched game three the whole week. I saw the errors coming out of yardage and we spoke about them,’’ the Blues prop said.

“There were eight errors in the back end of game three and I put that in my mind and told myself not to make errors coming out of yardage.’’

The Bulldogs prop ran for 93-metres from 11 carries on Wednesday night.

He is desperate to atone for the loss by being picked again for Origin II and confirmed he would play this Sunday against the Roosters.

We’ve (Bulldogs) got some top four teams coming up and hopefully I can show that I want to be there for game two,’’ Pangai Jr said.

“I definitely will back up for Canterbury this weekend.

“We’ll see. I definitely want to work hard now.

“It was good to get amongst it, to play with the best players and I want a chance to do it again.’’

Originally published as State of Origin: NSW captain James Tedesco hits back after criticism of Game I performance