How will the Wests Tigers faithful react to new Roosters fullback and former favourite James Tedesco?
LUKE Brooks, tongue planted firmly in cheek, wants Tigers fans to boo James Tedesco. Elijah Taylor wants them to show respect. But just how will the former favourite son be received?
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LOOSEN your vocal cords, Wests Tigers fans — it’s time to boo James Tedesco.
That’s the message from Tedesco’s housemate Luke Brooks, who has cheekily urged the Tigers faithful to give the star Roosters recruit a roasting on Saturday night.
Brooks was sharing pizza with ‘Teddy’ and a cast of former Tigers last week, but he says friendships will be put aside at ANZ Stadium.
It comes as veteran forward Elijah Taylor pleaded with Wests supporters to show Tedesco “respect” and refrain from sledging their former favourite.
Brooks, though, says the club’s followers have the right to act how they feel.
“I guess that (respect) would be good, but in saying that it’s up to the fans,” Brooks told The Daily Telegraph.
“They can say what they want. I don’t think it will affect Teddy too much, but maybe if we do get them to get into him it might put him off his game.”
Banter aside, Brooks has high respect for Tedesco as a player and person.
He rates his housemate as one of the NRL’s finest fullbacks. He knows Tedesco’s departure won’t be easy to cover, but he has called on his teammates to mentally move on.
“Teddy is definitely a massive loss for us, but that is just something we’ll have to get our heads around,” he said.
“It was a little bit disappointing (to see him leave), but in the end it doesn’t matter what I think.
“It’s up to the player what they wanted to do and what they thought was best for them and their career.
“He’ll be a big threat against us this weekend.”
Brooks no longer plays alongside his buddy Tedesco, but he insists their friendship has barely changed.
“We don’t see each other as much, which probably could be a good thing,” he joked.
“But we still mates and a lot of the Tigers boys that have been here in the past are still really close.
“That’s part of footy and all the players come and go.”
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Taylor is another Tiger who says his side should be wary of Tedesco when he makes his Roosters debut on Saturday night.
“Teddy is a freakish player,” Taylor said.
“When I came to the Tigers from the Panthers and Warriors I’d never seen someone with such lightning speed off the mark.
“Everyone knows how dangerous Teddy is.
“He will definitely be one of the target men and we’ve got to be on our game to shut down his kick returns.”
Tedesco’s exit equally hurt the Tigers’ players and fans, but Taylor wasn’t as worried.
“It wasn’t hard at all,” he said.
“In this day and age everyone comes and goes and you’ve just got to make the most of the time you’re given.
“There are no bad feelings between any of the players, because you have to look after yourself at the end of the day.
“Rugby league is a very cutthroat and ruthless business these days.”