Refreshed Tedesco ready for Latrell faceoff

While James Tedesco missed the cut and thrust of the NRL, he admits he also enjoyed the time away as the game went into hibernation due to COVID-19.

Roosters fullback James Tedesco says he has enjoyed the quiet of lockdown

James Tedesco was in a reflective mood on Tuesday. Has been for some time. Not just his own career either. Tedesco was happy to reflect on the travails of playing fullback, the impact of the new rules and what it all means for his former teammate Latrell Mitchell as they prepare to square off when the Sydney Roosters face South Sydney at Bankwest Stadium on Friday night.

While Tedesco missed the cut and thrust of rugby league, he admits he also enjoyed the time away as the game went into hibernation due to COVID-19.

“It has been good,” said Tedesco. “I have actually enjoyed it. I missed the boys and not being able to see anyone. For me, having that time to sit back and reflect, the last few years have been full-on with Origin and Australia as well.

“There wasn’t much time to chill out at home. After the season, you would go away and then you were back into it again. Having this time, relaxing and doing my own training, I didn’t mind it.

“(It was about) sitting back and being grateful for those few years and what I’ve achieved … finding that hunger; wanting to get better.

“During this time it was on all of us to take that responsibility. I found it really good. Going to bed at a good time, eating good food, and getting up and training.”

Tedesco, speaking in his role as a Fox League ambassador, had flashbacks to when he was a teenager and he would hone his skills in the fields around the family property in western Sydney.

On occasions, he would also catch up with teammate Luke Keary to practise some drills. The pair have a formidable partnership but they lost one of their biggest weapons in the off-season when Mitchell moved to Souths.

No player enters Friday night’s game under as much pressure as Mitchell as he makes the transition to the No 1 jersey.

“I feel like he has been copping a lot,” Tedesco said. “As a fullback it is hard to go into a new position and be the best. It takes a while, it takes a long time. Off the ball, not many people see you have to be on every play, you have to be supporting, you have to be talking in defence. There are so many things it takes guys to get used to.

“It might take him two games, it might come this game, or it might take 10. It takes time to adapt. It took me ages.

“You ask any fullback, it takes ages to get comfortable in that position and be on every minute.”

Tedesco is already the greatest fullback in the game but the sense is that he will become even more potent with the rule changes, in particulate the six-again call for ruck infringements. Tired forwards will become the targets.

“As a fullback naturally that is my first look and first feel around the ruck — whenever I see the lazy defender, that is my cue,” he said.

“Now if there is going to be an extra three or four tackles in a set, those middles are going to be even more tired.”