Wests Tigers’ James Tedesco expects Raiders fans to pay him back for contract backflip

NEXT Monday, James Tedesco heads to Canberra where he expects to receive a frosty reception from the fans he ditched at the eleventh hour last year.

Tigers James Tedesco during the Wests Tigers v Melbourne Storm rugby league game at Leichhardt Oval, Sydney. Pic Brett Costello

THE last time James Tedesco was in the nation’s capital, he met with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart and let him know he’d agree to the club’s mega three-year deal.

Next Monday, Tedesco heads to Canberra where he expects to receive a frosty reception from the fans he ditched at the eleventh hour.

Tedesco last year backflipped on the Raiders before the round-13 deadline to stick with the Wests Tigers.

Raiders boss Don Furner was far from impressed. The club had already missed out on several other big-name players.

Tedesco publicly apologised to Canberra, and admitted: “I never felt totally comfortable with my decision and, after thinking it through, I ­realised it would be too hard to leave my best mates.’’

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Tedesco tormented the Storm on Friday night.

The fact Tedesco has now been in blistering form all season for the Tigers won’t sit well with the Raiders. If you’re Tigers CEO Phil Moss, you’d be tempted to start thinking about offering Tedesco a Daly Cherry-Evans-like lifelong deal.

Having said that, Canberra did get one back up on the Tigers by signing discard Blake Austin.

Speaking after his five-star role against Melbourne on Friday night, Tedesco recalled his meeting with Stuart, and how he was impressed with the successful coach’s vision for the Green Machine.

“He wanted me to go down there, and I was convinced I wanted to when I was talking to him,’’ Tedesco told The Sunday Telegraph.

“Everyone tells you different things you want to hear. It was such a hard process to go through while I was injured and a young age.

“He said it was a good opportunity, they were building down there — they are building, and they’re playing some good footy — and he wanted me to be a part of it.

“But it was hard to leave the boys here. The opportunity came for me to stay here, I was grateful to stay, and happy I could.’’

Tigers skipper Robbie Farah hit the nail on the head about Tedesco when he said: “I’d hate to think how much worse we’d be going if we didn’t have him here this year.’’

Farah was one of the players who did his best to convince Tedesco to stay at the Tigers. There were no shortage of his teammates who also chimed in.

Tigers coach Jason Taylor is clearly relieved he arrived at Concord and got the chance to work with Tedesco.

“The thing I didn’t realise Teddy had at the level he does is skill along with speed,’’ Taylor said.

“It was clear he was quick, but I didn’t realise he could catch and pass like he does.’’

Tedesco sent a scare through the Tigers camp when he appeared to clutch at his left knee with 15 minutes to go on Friday night. It turned out to be his ankle, which was fine after the match.

While Tedesco excites Tigers’ fans stand every time he touches the ball, Austin, who struggled to crack it for a regular starting berth at the Tigers last year, has done likewise at Canberra.

Tedesco said Austin had really grown in confidence since he had locked down the Raiders’ No. 6 jumper, and was a player the Tigers’ wouldneed to try and contain.

The other positive for the Tigers is the way their young halves, Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses — two kids who were basically the reason a player like Austin was moved along — continue to show glimpses of their potential.

Originally published as Wests Tigers’ James Tedesco expects Raiders fans to pay him back for contract backflip