James Tedesco learning to run again as Wests Tigers try to keep him injury free

EXCLUSIVE: In a desperate bid to keep James Tedesco injury free in 2015, the Wests Tigers are teaching the fullback a new way to run.

Wests Tigers v Souths at ANZ Stadium

IN a desperate bid to keep James Tedesco injury free in 2015, the Wests Tigers are teaching him a new way to run.

Since making his NRL debut back in 2012, Tedesco has had a horror run of leg injuries which has resulted in the club attempting to change his running style.

New coach Jason Taylor has introduced a new strength and conditioning coach to the club, Marcus Kain, who has been assisting the 21-year-old in his return from a nasty torn patella.

Three weeks into pre-season training, Tedesco is still rehabbing the injury which has now transitioned into sprint work and a new running style focused on injury prevention — a term regularly mentioned at the club’s Concord base.

“I’m trying to not put as much pressure on my joints — knees and ankles and doing anything that can stop me from getting injured,” Tedesco revealed.

“Prevention is one of the big things and a big one for our whole club. There have been a lot of big injuries and surgeries the boys have had to have over the last couple of years. We want to cut that down, that is something JT has focused on.

“For me personally people have been watching how I run, and I run too low to the ground. I’m trying to fix up my arm technique and higher knees. Just to run lighter and not heavy … It is a work in progress but they said if five per cent helps that is a bonus.”

In a wide-ranging interview with Foxsports.com.au, Tedesco opens up on his recovery from a serious knee injury, life at the Tigers under Jason Taylor and his change of heart after agreeing to join Canberra.

RETURNING TO THE FIELD

While Tedesco is yet to begin team training he is confident he will be at full fitness when the season kicks off on March 5 but is unlikely to feature in the Auckland Nines tournament. Focusing on agility and straight line running, Tedesco says he is at “about 80 per cent” in his recovery and will begin contact work just before the Christmas break.

“I’m not sure if I’ll play in the Nines,” he said. “It might be beneficial to miss it with the risk of injury. I’m not too sure about that time frame — by the end of January I should be sweet. I just have to get through some contact which I haven’t tried yet.”

INJURIES AND THE MIND GAMES

Tedesco made his NRL debut against Cronulla in the first round of 2012. He showed great potential until he tore his ACL in the 30th minute which put a premature end to his season.

He made his return the following year and claimed a City Origin jersey after only four games in the NRL, before finishing off as a member of the Italian World Cup squad.

Off the back of a consistent year, injury struck again, an ankle issue followed by the patella tear again cut his year short.

“You see a lot of players coming through like Matt Moylan (at Penrith and) how he’s been going this year and last year and you want to be out there and test yourself against guys like that,” he said.

“I was feeling pretty confident coming into this season. I played a few games then had ankle surgery and then the knee. It’s definitely frustrating for me.

“I don’t know what to put it down to — bad luck. I’m just focusing on eating right and changing my diet and trying to work out how my body feels and not run it down too much … It hasn’t got to me that much mentally. I think I’ve handled it alright.”

TIM MOLTZEN

One person who has been helping the Wests junior with his recovery is his teammate Tim Moltzen. Ironically they play the same position and suffered the same injury.

“Both our patella’s split in half but (the club) had to be a lot more careful with him because they didn’t know the reason, while mine was obviously a knee clash and broke in half,” he said. “Moltzen is coming along well. He obviously has had a long time out of the game so he is a bit cautious to get back out there but he has been good to bounce some motivation and ideas off in terms of rehab.”

With Tedesco and Moltzen in rehab, the likes of Kurtis Rowe, who made his debut last year, and new recruit Kevin Naiqama have been training in the custodian’s role.

Tedesco is the front runner to secure the no.1 jersey but the battle for positions has heated up.

“It’s hard because I am slowly getting back into the team stuff over the next few weeks but Molts probably won’t get into it until after Christmas,” Tedesco said.

BROOKS AND MOSES

The Tigers boast the youngest spine in the competition. Tedesco celebrates his 22nd birthday in January, Mitchell Moses turned 20 in September and Luke Brooks turns 20 in late December. The trio are close friends away from the field, regularly enjoying lunch dates or playing FIFA on the Play Station but their game time together is near non-existent, something Tedesco believes is a non-issue ahead of 2015.

“I don’t think I have played with Mitch before,” Tedesco reveals.

“We have trained together for a while and all three of us are pretty close. Last year Brooksy and Mitch came in and we had a combination straight away. I love training with them, they are so skilful and talented.

“Me and Brooksy have that combination and Mitch and Brooksy have it so we just have to link me and Mitch together.”

CANBERRA

He sacrificed nearly $500,000 by backflipping on a three-year deal to join the Raiders in what was the biggest decision of his career. Having changed his mind at the 11th hour to stay with his junior club, Tedesco says the entire ordeal was something he struggled with.

“It was tough,” he recalls. “I’m glad I was doing it all when I was injured so I didn’t have to play. It does play on your mind a bit. A lot of people try and tell you different things so you have to take it all in. It was tough to go through but I’m glad I stayed. I’m glad the club showed some faith with the three year deal.”

Ironically he suffered his season ending injury against Canberra, stretchered from the field in the opening minute of play.

“On Twitter Canberra fans would say ‘I hope you break your legs’ and stuff like that and then I play Canberra and it happens,” he said. “It is a bit weird. It was just a freak accident.”

JASON TAYLOR

The former Parramatta and South Sydney mentor has taken control of the Tigers and wasted little time putting his mark on the place.

Having met with each member of the squad individually, outlining what he expects of them next season, he has put a primary focus on the team’s defence.

“He has come in here and made a lot of changes actually,” Tedesco said.

“All the boys have taken it on board. I think we needed that change and were stuck in a little bit of a rut.

“I think we needed someone to come in and straighten things up, show some authority towards us. He’s touched on defence which is probably the main thing we need to improve on.

“Our record last year wasn’t too good. We can score tries but defence is an area we need to improve.

“I’m sure we’ll get into the game plans soon heading into the New Year.”

LOSING ANASTA AND BLAIR

The Tigers begin 2015 down on experience following the loss of Braith Anasta (retired) and Adam Blair (Brisbane).

While Tedesco admits the senior players will be hard to replace, it has meant others have had to assume more responsibility in their absence.

“It is a big loss,” he said of Anasta and Blair.

“Our squad is young enough and then we have to lose those players as well, it is tough to combat but we haven’t spoken about it that much. Our young boys are training great.

“The boys that are experienced in Woods and Farah are away (on break after the Four Nations).
“Chris Lawrence isn’t that old but one of the more experienced in the team and his talk gets the boys going and Pat Richards. They have been good.”

Originally published as James Tedesco learning to run again as Wests Tigers try to keep him injury free