Jason Taylor says James Tedesco is ready for Test and Origin football

MAL Meninga might not want any rookies for the ANZAC Test but Jason Taylor says James Tedesco is ready to play at the game’s highest level

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 14: James Tedesco of the Tigers celebrates his third try with team mates during the round two NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the Manly Sea Eagles at Leichhardt Oval on March 14, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

MAL Meninga has indicated he won’t pick him, but Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor believes fullback James Tedesco is ready for Test football.

Tedesco is the NRL’s most potent player over the opening seven rounds, topping the charts with eight tries and having already set up another five.

He’s also broken the line eight times, and according to Fox Sports Stats, has put another six players in gaps to break through. And while Australia coach Meninga this week pointed to a lack of representative and finals experience as a reason young stars like Tedesco are unlikely to be picked for next month’s midyear Test against New Zealand, Taylor believes the chance wouldn’t hurt anyone.

“Absolutely,” Taylor said when quizzed on whether Tedesco would cope at Test football.

“I think Teddy is ready to handle any representative that he gets called on to play, whether that be for Australia, NSW, he’s ready for it.

“He’s one of the better players in the game in my opinion and he’s only going to get better. We’re lucky to have him.” The Tigers custodian has the first of two last chances to impress Meninga against the Australia coach’s former club, Canberra, on Saturday.

It is also the same club the 23-year-old fullback backflipped on a three-year deal on in 2014, angering Canberra fans and officials alike.

More important for Taylor this weekend though is finding a way for the Tigers snap a five-game losing streak and bounce back from two tight defeats.

Tedesco has been in super form so far this season.

“That’s gone, that one is over now.

“We’ve got to look forward to a really tough game in Canberra against a team that have been really disappointing by their own accounts.”

Originally published as Jason Taylor says James Tedesco is ready for Test and Origin football