The secret to Teddy's career-best form? Resisting what he does best

The Age

a day ago

But there is a tweak in the ruck running that Lindsay Collins says Tedesco 'probably pioneered' - those pin-balling tackle three and four carries that Dylan Edwards and Connor Tracey have also made their hallmarks.
The same plays that, through sheer competitiveness and ability, could see Tedesco involved too much, especially as NSW captain, trying to put a team on his back too often.
Champion Data statistics reveal Tedesco ranks fourth across the NRL for tackle three carries in 2025, and second for tackle four runs. Clint Gutherson is the only other back who features in the top five of each stat, which is otherwise led by elite pack horses like Terrell May, Keaon Koloamatangi and Pat Carrigan.
Since a 2023 dip in form, Tedesco is significantly more involved in the middle of the Roosters sets, yet finding his teammates more often too - as noted by Rugby League Writers' Jason Oliver.
'I'd say he's added that pass with those plays over the last two years,' Watson says.
'I think that's because you see a lot of fullbacks running that way now [around the ruck]. So if Teddy brings a bit of shape around his carry, it gives us the option to move the ball from his running too.'
Collins adds: 'As a middle too, if you're running around Teddy, you notice the defensive line can stop and hold, because they're on alert. There's the chance to hit a hole off him, and usually a quick play-the-ball too.'
For his part, Tedesco was quick to point to the Roosters drop-off in the past month that has dropped them out of the top eight at the wrong point in the season.
Losses to the Tigers and Storm when Jahrome Hughes went down are particularly galling.
'Our team performances haven't been the best and I'll wear a bit of that,' Tedesco said leading into the Manly clash.
'But I've been really enjoying leading these young guys. I think at the start of the year no-one really gave us a chance or expectation and I've enjoyed leading those boys through my actions and communication.
'Now there is expectation and pressure on us to win. I need to lead by example.'
Aside from the Roosters error-strewn defeat to Cronulla two weeks back, Tedesco has hit the same lofty bar he's set all season.
With five, if not six wins needed from as many games to sneak into the finals, the return of young half Hugo Savala's kicking game and control is especially welcome.
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Sydney's latest big wet points to the long and short kicking games of Savala and Sam Walker, Daly Cherry-Evans and Luke Brooks potentially deciding their sides' top-eight hopes.
So too Tedesco's trademark sniping around the ruck, especially if Tom Trbojevic is still confined to right centre when, at his best, he can match the Roosters No.1 scything through a middle defence.
The temptation to try and put the Tricolours on his back is right there for Tedesco.
'It's a constant thing to work on,' he says.
'Over my career, around the ruck and around the middle of the field is where I've played most of my footy but there's lots of opportunities out wide.
'It's those combinations with the halves - Sammy Walker's come back in, Hugo's been out a couple of weeks but as a spine working together, that's what brings out my best footy.
'So I have to be clear with our spine on what our game plan is, but just getting my hands on the ball without too much thinking is when I play my best footy too.'