James Tedesco v Josh Dugan: who wins NSW fullback spot after four NRL rounds?

VOTE: James Tedesco and Josh Dugan came up with inspirational performances for their respective clubs, but who would Laurie Daley pick at No.1 after four NRL rounds?

Tigers James Tedesco stops Parramatta's Michael Jennings from scoring a try during the Round 4 NRL game between the Wests Tigers and the Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium.Picture Gregg Porteous

IF Laurie Daley was picking his NSW team today, should he hand James Tedesco or Josh Dugan the No. 1 jumper?

That’s the question plenty of Blues fans are debating after the two fullbacks came up with inspirational performances for their respective clubs over the Easter weekend.

While Dugan won his Dragons the match against Penrith with his best game of the year on Sunday, Tedesco was nothing short of magnificent despite the Tigers going down 8-0 to Parramatta on Monday.

Josh Dugan celebrates scoring the winning try over the Panthers. Picture: Gregg Porteous

We already knew just how dangerous Tedesco was with the ball in his hands, but against the Eels the 23-year-old showed us another super strength.

In what Robbie Farah described as Origin-tough defence, Tedesco produced two of the best try-saving tackles of the season - on two of the toughest players to stop from scoring.

His first effort on Semi Radradra in just the 4th minute was an absolute ripper when he stopped the flying Fijian dead in his tracks to save a certain four pointer.

Then midway through the second half Eels speed machine Michael Jennings looked certain to score before Tedesco produced another magical effort to hold Jennings up in goal.

In Fox Sports commentary former Queensland fullback Gary Belcher labelled it “shades of Garry Jack at his best”, in reference to the former Balmain champion No.1.

Farah has long been one of Tedesco’s greatest supporters and actually privately labelled him the next Billy Slater before Tedesco had even played NRL.

Asked about Tedesco’s effort on Monday, Farah said: “Attacking wise it probably wasn’t our best game or his best game.

“But there are certain plays that you expect and want from an Origin player.

“Everyone talks about tries saved in Origin are as good as a try scored, and a couple of those tackles he came up with I am sure would have caught the eye of people watching.”

And while Farah wasn’t about to tell his NSW coach what he should do this year, Farah said Tedesco’s form speaks for itself - he’s just got to keep doing it until the team is picked for the Origin opener on June 1.

“You can ask (Daley) what his perception is, I am not going to comment on that,” Farah said.

“I have obviously got a high opinion of James.

“So whenever I am asked I give my honest opinion and that is all it is.

“If her keeps playing the way he is then I guess it doesn’t matter what I say or anyone else says, I think his performances will speak for themselves.

“He is going good but there is still another seven or eight weeks before the side is picked.

“There is still a long times.”

But if Daley was picking his team after four rounds it would be impossible to leave Tedesco out - it’s just a matter of how he fits him in.

James Tedesco pulls off an incredible try-saver on Michael Jennings. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Dugan’s form since returning to fullback only adds to Daley’s dilemma, given he is also the reigning Blues’ player of the year.

Asked if Tedesco had the same steel in his defence last year, Farah pointed out: “He is a tough kid.

“I think people underestimate that he is a big kid too.

“He is not the smallest bloke in the world and these days that is what you expect from your fullback, to come up with those sort of plays, one-on-one, saving tries.

The best fullbacks in the comp do it.

“It kept us in the game.

“It wasn’t enough in the end but we could have easily been two or three tries down.”

Originally published as James Tedesco v Josh Dugan: who wins NSW fullback spot after four NRL rounds?