James Tedesco has revealed he is beforehand mentioned a possible place swap with Roosters coach Trent Robinson, amid hypothesis the NRL membership could possibly be trying to lure Ryan Papenhuyzen again to Sydney. Papenhuyzen is formally a free agent for the 2026 season after rejecting a $200,000-per-year pay minimize on the Melbourne Storm.
The Storm provided their fullback a $750,000-per-year contract extension, however he is as a substitute determined to check his worth on the open market. The 26-year-old has been linked to the Roosters, with Tedesco additionally at the moment with no contract previous the 2025 season.
But Tedesco revealed on Wednesday that he is anticipating to signal an extension within the coming weeks, and does not see himself leaving the membership or retiring anytime quickly. But the 31-year-old additionally admitted he floated the potential of switching to five-eighth to teach Robinson if it could assist the membership snare one other gun like Papenhuyzen to shore up the membership’s future within the place.
“I’ve chatted to Robbo maybe last year, I said I was willing to play in the halves or five-eighth, but I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Tedesco mentioned. “Stats wise, I had one of my best years.
“We (the media) are solely taking about (succession planning with recruitment) due to age, whereas I do not see that as a difficulty. If issues are dropping due to my age, I perceive, however after the 12 months I simply had at 31, I do know what my physique’s like, what my mentality is and my work fee. I’m not going to dip an excessive amount of, that is simply how I’m.”
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While the position switch might have once been an option, it appears as though the Roosters are sticking with Tedesco at fullback. It likely means the club isn’t actively pursuing Papenhuyzen, and instead might turn their attention to Ben Hunt. With Sam Walker and Brandon Smith set to miss a large chunk of 2025 due to ACL injuries, Hunt is looming as an ideal target to play either halfback or hooker.
James Tedesco won’t be leaving Roosters anytime soon
Tedesco said he doesn’t have an age in mind that he wants to finish at, believing the fact he’s fallen out of the NSW and Australia teams can prolong his club career. Tedesco was Blues and Kangaroos captain up until this year, when he lost his spot to Panthers star Dylan Edwards.
“The Origin interval could be very taxing mentally and bodily. You’re backing up after video games so it does take a toll in your physique,” Tedesco said. “I felt this 12 months I had these weeks off and I used to be enjoying a few of my finest footy. It undoubtedly aligned there. People need to take a look at age however everybody’s totally different. You take a look at a few of the older gamers within the sport, (Daly) Cherry-Evans, Ben Hunt, they’re nonetheless going.”
Robinson also admitted he doesn’t see the need to start planning for Tedesco’s eventual retirement. “I feel Teddy will play for a number of extra years,” he said. “There is no-one of their 20s (set to exchange him), we have got a extremely younger child nonetheless at college who we predict is a future in that place for us.
“We’ve signed him on that long-term deal, but that is four or five years away. There is no rush there with Teddy because we feel like he has more years left in him, and it would be nice to get a deal done soon to extend that.”
with AAP
