James Tedesco wants to extend with the Roosters — but the club could find itself in an “interesting” position with the superstar fullback.
Tedesco is contracted until the end of 2025, which means he will become a free agent if he’s not re-signed before November 1.
The 31-year-old believes he can play for another three or four years, according to The Sydney Morning Herald, and declared he wants to “finish my career here.”
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However it may not be that simple for the Roosters skipper given the demands of the position he plays and the fact he’ll be 32 by the end of his current deal.
“This is an interesting one because Teddy’s the hero. He’s one of the best players at the club, he’s ultra-consistent, ultra-reliable… any club would want him and he wants to be a Rooster for life,” NRL 360 host Braith Anasta said.
News Corp journalist Michael Carayannis believes Tedesco, who was dropped from the NSW Origin side this year, might have to settle for a one-year extension rather than a multi-year deal.
“I don’t think he’s going to be able to command a two or three-year deal at the Roosters. If I’m the Roosters I think I’d be trying to extend him for 12 months and then playing it year by year,” he told NRL 360.
Anasta agreed with Carayannis but pointed to the messy fallout between the Rabbitohs and Adam Reynolds when they tried to do that with the veteran halfback, who ended up leaving for the Broncos.
“I don’t disagree with you, but it reminds me of Adam Reynolds at the Bunnies,” he said.
“Not that it’s a bad thing and not that I think they shouldn’t do that — I tend to think it’s a good idea as well. But the player doesn’t always (get on board) and this is where it could get tricky because if Teddy goes ‘no, I want security, I deserve it’.”
However Gorden Tallis raised the point that the Roosters will farewell two star players at the end of this season, with Tedesco’s mortgage on the No.1 jersey thought to be a part of why they’re leaving.
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“You look at players leaving — Joseph Manu and Joseph Sua’ali’i — they’re probably leaving because they want to play No.1,” he said.
“So there’s the balance in that he’s a legend and is going to go down as one of the greatest ever Roosters… do you hold him too long and then lose one of those other guys.
“I’ll play devil’s advocate. The way he plays, he’s always on the ball, he’s running so many metres.
“There’s going to be a day where he falls off a cliff and you lose your speed. A bit like Clint Gutherson, he’s been so good for Parramatta… but they just burn out because of how they’ve played the game.
“I would show him respect and say ‘can we talk half way through next year and see how you’re feeling as well’.”
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James Hooper supports that idea, but fears if the Roosters wait that long a rival club could swoop in come November 1.
“Where it could get interesting is struggling clubs would look at a James Tedesco, everything he’s achieved in the game and the fact he’s a leader and they might think ‘we could really utilise his services’.”
Carayannis added: “If he hit the open market, he’s the perfect player for Shane Flanagan — and they’d give him $1 million over three years for sure.”
But at the end of the day Anasta — who spent seven years as a Rooster — believes Tedesco will remain a Rooster for life.
“I know it’s a spicy conversation but I don’t see him leaving,” he said.
“He’s got a great relationship with Nick (Politis) and Nick always finds a way with his players — I think Teddy would take that one year and be happy with it.”
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