James Tedesco’s manager torment could lead to NRL first

James Tedesco is caught up in an ugly spat between manager Isaac Moses and mentor Joe Wehbe, with the Roosters fullback sticking with the latter as he works out his immediate future.

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Sydney Roosters and NSW fullback James Tedesco will consider becoming the first NRL superstar to dump player agents altogether after a bitter fallout with manager, Isaac Moses.

The shock development comes as Tedesco was forced to align himself with either his mentor, Joe Wehbe, or manager Moses.

The Daily Telegraph understands Tedesco and Moses have fallen out so badly the pair don’t talk. Moses though still has a contract with Tedesco for the next two years and won’t allow his star client to walk away.

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James Tedesco is believed to have fallen out with manager Isaac Moses. Picture: Brett Costello

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In a further blow to the pair’s relationship, the Sydney Roosters are helping Tedesco over the validity of third-party deals secured by Moses.

Tedesco has also been inadvertently caught in the middle of an ugly spat between Wehbe and Moses. Wehbe was working for Moses’ company — Elite Sports Management — but the pair fell out and is now at war in the Supreme Court over financial indiscretions.

Essentially, Tedesco knew he had to choose one over the other. He went with Wehbe. There is a suggestion now Wehbe may gravitate to another NRL player agent.

Tedesco stuck by his mentor, Joe Wehb. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

During a Roosters media conference on Thursday, Tedesco spoke glowingly of Wehbe but failed to praise Moses, only saying: “I haven’t had the greatest experiences with them (managers) to be honest so far. I’m not going to talk about Isaac or my management. I’m working on that privately.”

Tedesco will now consider managing himself.

“I reckon it would be good. At this stage I probably could, to be honest,” Tedesco said.

“It’s hard when you’re a young kid and you’ve got managers promising you the world. It’s hard for parents and kids to know what the right thing is to do. As a kid, I didn’t know what to do either when someone promises you something.

Tedesco was full of praise for Wehbe. Picture: Peter Wallis

“(But) now you know how the game works and how you can promote yourself. If you play good footy then opportunities will come your way. That’s the main thing.

“You need a bit of guidance here and there – and it probably would be hard on your own – but I know a lot of older players who are starting to do it on their own.

“They probably feel more comfortable and safer doing it on your own rather than going through (having to) talking to your manager, talk to the club or talk to a player when you can just do it on your own and save the stress I guess.”

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Pressed on whether he was out of pocket over the third-party drama, Tedesco said: “No, no, I don’t think so. It’s just how it is, that’s just the footy world I guess. I’ve got no regrets. It is probably hard to understand for the fans (regarding) what managers do.”

Tedesco admitted he wouldn’t be the superstar player he had become without the guidance and words of Wehbe, known as the football whisperer.

“He’s massive. I still speak to him week in, week out about footy about how I can improve and what I can work on. He is honest and I trust him with everything. He tells me honestly and straight-up-and-down,” Tedesco said.

“I love talking to him on and off the field. I speak to him more than three times a week about anything I want to. It’s really good for my head space and mentality.”