State of Origin 3: Record-busting James Tedesco topples Blues legend Danny Buderus

There are few NSW players under more pressure than James Tedesco but despite the bad press, the NSW skipper continues to break Origin records for fun.

Records are made to be broken.

And NSW Blues captain James Tedesco has a knack for rewriting the State of Origin history books.

Tedesco broke not one but two records at Suncorp Stadium in game two, where he eclipsed Queensland’s Petero Civoniceva for most run metres in Origin history and surpassed Tim Brasher as the most capped starting Blues fullback.

On Wednesday night, the Sydney Roosters champion will topple another Origin great in current Blues assistant coach Danny Buderus.

Buderus played 21-straight games for NSW but when Tedesco leads Blues out onto Accor Stadium, he’ll overtake the Newcastle great for most consecutive appearances for NSW with 22 caps to his name.

“They’re (records) meant to be broken,” Buderus said.

“He’s always had a standard Teddy. It’s disappointing that it hasn’t gone to plan in the first two games in the series for him.

“But there is no one more hungry to represent NSW as a skipper and no one more hungry to represent NSW in 2023.

James Tedesco will overtake Danny Buderus for most consecutive games for NSW.

“It’s a game where he wants to come out in front of loyal fans in Sydney and provide an opportunity for those fans to cheer. He’ll be at the forefront of that. And a lot of the good things we do will have Teddy around it.”

Tedesco’s journey to Wednesday night’s record breaking game has not been a smooth one.

For the first time in his illustrious representative career, Tedesco’s position at fullback, and role as skipper, has come under pressure.

Struggling for form at club level, some fans and pundits questioned if it was time for the Blues to move on from the champion Roosters custodian.

Buderus said that ‘outside noise’ had unfairly tainted Tedesco’s Blues legacy but the skipper had the chance to rewrite the narrative in helping the Blues avoid a series whitewash.

“Yeah, it has been an interesting series this one off the field, there has been a lot going on,” Buderus said.

“There have been little hurdles here and there. It’s tough, it’s tough for someone like Teddy being the skipper, you do feel a bit of a burden but hopefully he can shake it off and really play relaxed and carefree.

“He just wants to get out there and enjoy the opportunity to represent NSW.”

James Tedesco is ready to help NSW avoid a series whitewash. Picture: Richard Dobson

Despite the series being over, a win for under-siege coach Brad Fittler could be the difference in saving his job beyond 2023.

Buderus said Wednesday night’s dead rubber still held significance for the Blues, with the side’s new faces like Cody Walker, Bradman Best and Keaon Koloamatangi playing for future selection.

A win in a dead rubber game can also re-set the trajectory for the Blues. Queensland have gone on to win two-straight series after beating NSW in the 2021 dead rubber.

“You take the last couple of minutes to send a message for the next game. We want to send a message for the next series,” Buderus said.

“We’ve been 2-nil up (in the past) and they have come back and played well in the third game. It’s about making sure that the Origin tale keeps moving forward, the future of Origin and what you want to be known for.

“It can come down to the last set when sending a message for the next game. (On Wednesday) we get a whole game to set the tone for next year’s series.”

‘Show my boy some respect’: Tedesco Snr hits out at critics

—Brent Read, David Riccio

All John Tedesco is asking for is a little bit of respect for his son.

Some credit for what James Tedesco, the NSW captain, has done for his state for nearly a decade.

The Blues fullback and representative mainstay for his state plays his 22nd consecutive State of Origin for NSW against Queensland at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night.

It’s a feat which has never been achieved by any NSW player in the 43-year history of State of Origin.

Not Steve Mortimer or Andrew Johns, not Danny Buderus or Paul Gallen.

Yet with another State of Origin series handed to Queensland and a decline in his superiority, the question that burns is; will Wednesday night be Tedesco‘s last stand for NSW?

Another loss and poor personal performance would heap more pressure on Tedesco and his future in sky blue.

John Tedesco has fired back at his son’s ‘vile’ critics.

“I think it hurts any player,” John Tedesco said.

“They may say they don’t read it or see it but it doesn’t matter because friends are seeing or other people and they are sending it back.

“James is off social media but his wife may be getting things. You can feel it anyhow. You can feel the body language.

“It hasn’t been good. He hasn’t been happy and the Roosters haven’t been going well. They all want to blame James.

“But lots and lots of little things all go together. Same with NSW. Negative stories don’t help anybody.

“If you look at seven months ago he captained Australia, scored two tries, won man of the match. He has won the Roosters best player five years in a row.

“He has won the Brad Fittler medal as player of the series. He has won the Dally M (medal). Now everyone gets their info off Twitter and anyone can write whatever they want on Twitter. It is just vile.”

Tedesco will go down as one of the Blues’ best ever players, but will Game III be his last game for NSW? Picture: Adam Head.

LAST STAND?

Tedesco will go down as one of the greatest players in NSW history, having made the most run metres in Origin history and is the most capped starting fullback in NSW history after overtaking Tim Brasher in game two this year.

His father says Tedesco isn’t hiding from the fact that he’s been far from his worldly best. He has acknowledged it, but there are reasons for it.

“I think there has been circumstances like the World Cup, he got married on January 7, then he had his two-week honeymoon,” John Tedesco said.

“Essentially his pre-season was four weeks. Normally they are four months. I don’t think he had much of a pre-season. He has been behind the eight-ball.”

Tedesco’s reluctance to wear long studs, a hangover from his knee reconstruction (in 2012), also brought him undone in Adelaide in game one on the slippery surface when he was wrong-footed by Maroons flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in the final minutes.

Tedesco Snr says there are good reasons for James’ mixed form, including having a short pre-season after guiding the Kangaroos to a World Cup victory. Picture: Getty Images.

“If you actually look at the stats of the two games, he has had two errors, two dropped balls and he has run for 400 metres,” John Tedesco said.

“Yeah, he slipped over in Adelaide. It was a very slippery surface right. I am not saying he played great – he didn’t.

“But he won’t wear long studs … because his very first game he wore long studs and he did his ACL.‘’

Former NSW State of Origin coach Laurie Daley was responsible for presenting Tedesco with his first Blues jersey seven series ago – Tedesco made his Origin debut in game three of the 2016 series, a match the Blues won 18-14.

Daley insists he would have chosen Tedesco for the dead-rubber, as Fittler has.

”Because he’s been a champion and played at such a high level, when there is a drop, he doesn’t suddenly become a bad player,’’ Daley said.

“It’s just that because he’s been a great player, people notice it more. He’s not doing the stuff that we saw him do when he was at his peak.

“That’s the challenge for him. I think it’s the right decision to pick him. Most coaches would say he’s been such a great servant and he’s been such a big part of that team, that you back your skipper until you can’t anymore.

“Freddy (Fittler) is doing the correct thing. I know other players are challenging and it might not be his jersey next year, but in this last game he certainly deserves to be chosen.”

Former NSW coach Laurie Daley has backed Brad Fittler’s choice to stick with Tedesco at fullback. Picture: Richard Dobson.

THE CRITICISM

Tedesco has been under a microscope like never before with pressure from experts for Penrith‘s Dylan Edwards to replace him.

Tedesco doesn’t always show his emotions. He has a world-class poker face. But John Tedesco insists his son treasures playing for the Blues.

“It is like the greatest honour you can have to captain your country and your state,” Tedesco said.

“Maybe he doesn’t express it to the public – but between family we know what it means to him. That is how he is.

“He just keeps everything to himself. He doesn’t like to brag about himself, he doesn’t like to talk himself up.

“He is like his mother – he is just a good person. If it was me or my other son, different story. I am really proud of the person he is.

“He is just a good soul. Unfortunately those people are subject to people taking advantage of them. My other boy Matthew, he is street wise.

“James is like his mother – he trusts people and he is very kind.”

State of Origin star James Tedesco with dad John, mum Rosemarie and brother Matthew. Picture: Supplied.

Kind and honest he may be, but Wednesday night could be the finale for one of the great Origin players.

Former Blues fullback Garry Jack, who played fullback for NSW on 17 occasions, is among those who believe Origin III could Tedesco‘s last dance in a Blues jersey.

“I think he’s been struggling for a little while,’’ Jack said.

“I’m mindful of the fact that he’s been a great player for such a long time. But you can see he has lost that yard or two. He’s not busting tackles like he used to and he’s not passing the ball or creating for his teammates.

“I would have played him in this game because I think he’s earned that right to lead NSW. But having said that, not too many blokes lose back-to-back Origin series and then get a third go.

“The reality of it is, this could be his final stand. It‘s the most high-profile game in the country and reputation only carries you so far.

“There‘s pressure from Dylan Edwards and now Scott Drinkwater has been included in the NSW extended squad due to his performances at fullback for the Cowboys.’’

THE FUTURE

There was talk this week that Tedesco could pre-empt his axing from the NSW team and make a call on his own.

John Tedesco would be stunned if that was the case. He knows how much the NSW jersey means to his son. Representative retirement isn’t on the agenda any time soon by the sounds of it.

“I had the real estate guy sending me a message,” John Tedesco said.

“Four years ago they were going on about (Daly) Cherry-Evans. Four years later he is 34 and they are talking about him being the best in the world now.

“Billy played until he was 35. James is not going to give it away.‘’

Originally published as State of Origin 3: Record-busting James Tedesco topples Blues legend Danny Buderus