Penrith admit they must stop Tigers superstar James Tedesco in Round 2 clash

THE Panthers know they need to stop Wests Tigers superstar James Tedesco but that’s easier said than done.

James Tedesco of the Tigers during the Wests Tigers v Penrith Panthers NRL round 17 game at ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park. pic Mark Evans

PENRITH coach Anthony Griffin got a close-up view of the destructive force that is Wests Tigers superstar James Tedesco last Friday night.

Griffin sat in the stands at ANZ Stadium and watched Tedesco terrorise South Sydney.

“The speed and footwork he’s got everyone saw that game, he’s started in great form, and he’s a real key for them,’’ Griffin said.

Given the Dragons somehow managed to score 42 against Penrith in round one, the Tigers could put together a cricket score on Sunday.

Tedesco tore the Panthers apart in their only match last season.

“He (Tedesco) comes around the back in the tramlines there on either side of the field, and if you haven’t got your line organised — we got burnt three or four times when we played them the first time last year — we have to make sure we can defend him,’’ Griffin said.

“He’s a real elite talent, he has blinding speed.

“If you’re a little big disorganised defensively, as you saw with Souths, he’ll get you.’’

Tedesco will need few excuses to shine at his hometown Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

Should the Panthers lose, they will have gone from joint title favourites with the bookies to potentially bottom of the ladder within a fortnight.

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Griffin also confirmed Peta Hiku, who returned from a knee reconstruction to start on the left wing, had fractured his cheekbone in the opening minutes of the Dragons loss, and would be sidelined for up to a month.

It could pave the way for Dylan Edwards to come on to the wing, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak pencilled in for a definite return the following weekend against the Sydney Roosters.

Griffin was not getting too stressed about the weekend pounding, and put it down to a ‘’bad day’’.

“It’s a 24-game season, and in my experience you’ll have a couple of bad days, you never want to have them nor do you accept them but it’s important how you respond,’’ Griffin said.