The Sydney Roosters are close to locking in a deal that will see champion fullback James Tedesco play out his career with the club.
Although he turns 33 early next year, Tedesco is in career-best form and has been sensational for the Roosters this season.
The veteran fullback is under contract until the end of 2026 but the Roosters are looking to extend him for another year with a further 12-month option.
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The club is keen to have the deal done before November 1 so Tedesco cannot be approached by rival clubs – specifically the new Perth franchise which would see great value in signing an experienced player with Tedesco’s standing in the game.
A Western Suburbs junior, Tedesco made his first top-grade appearance for Wests Tigers in round one, 2012 – but it was one of the worst debuts in NRL history.
James Tedesco of the Roosters. Getty
With no one near him midway through the first half, he attempted to run back a Cronulla kick downfield when his knee caved in – and he underwent major reconstruction surgery, failing to play again that season.
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It was the first of many serious injuries to strike Tedesco during his career – but he kept coming back… and getting better and better.
In 2018, he made the big decision to switch to the Roosters and it proved the best move of his career.
He won a grand final in his first year in the red, white and blue and scored the winning try in the 2019 decider against Canberra as the Roosters went back-to-back.
Tedesco is now approaching 200 games for the Roosters and is destined to go down in the club’s long history as arguably their best-ever fullback.
