Tedesco sacrificed 700k to be the best

WESTS Tigers star James Tedesco sacrificed up to $700,000 to join the Sydney Roosters — because he “wants to be the best.”The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the Roosters’ offer to Tedesco was actually third-best behind Wests Tigers and Canterbury.Yet Roosters supremo Nick Politis and coach Trent Robinson still got their man.A desire to play at the powerful Roosters and to “better himself” drove Tedesco — the incumbent NSW fullback — to a new four-year deal at Bondi.Tedesco’s decision had nothing to do with money. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)KENT: COFFEE DATE UNDERLINES TIGERS’ TROUBLESClose friends to Tedesco claim the fullback has never been driven by money and his family are financially well-off through property development and investments in Sydney’s west.“Wests Tigers could have offered him $2m a season and he wouldn’t have stayed,” said a close friend of Tedesco.“James always wanted to go to the Roosters. The Roosters were the lowest offer. It had nothing to do with money — he wants to go there to better himself, to be a better footballer.“He has this drive to be the best. He just wants to be the best.“That’s why he is going there. It has nothing to do with money. People make it about money. James doesn’t live by pay cheques. It has to do with how the place is run and how he could better himself.“When he reneged on Canberra (in 2014), he was told things would improve at Wests Tigers. He should have gone to Canberra* Tedesco, Aaron Woods and Mitch Moses were almost certain to re-sign with Wests Tigers six weeks ago until the club sacked life coach Joe Wehbe, who has significant influence over a number of star players.WESTS Tigers star James Tedesco sacrificed up to $700,000 to join the Sydney Roosters — because he “wants to be the best.”The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the Roosters’ offer to Tedesco was actually third-best behind Wests Tigers and Canterbury.Yet Roosters supremo Nick Politis and coach Trent Robinson still got their man.A desire to play at the powerful Roosters and to “better himself” drove Tedesco — the incumbent NSW fullback — to a new four-year deal at Bondi.Tedesco’s decision had nothing to do with money. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)KENT: COFFEE DATE UNDERLINES TIGERS’ TROUBLESClose friends to Tedesco claim the fullback has never been driven by money and his family are financially well-off through property development and investments in Sydney’s west.“Wests Tigers could have offered him $2m a season and he wouldn’t have stayed,” said a close friend of Tedesco.“James always wanted to go to the Roosters. The Roosters were the lowest offer. It had nothing to do with money — he wants to go there to better himself, to be a better footballer.“He has this drive to be the best. He just wants to be the best.“That’s why he is going there. It has nothing to do with money. People make it about money. James doesn’t live by pay cheques. It has to do with how the place is run and how he could better himself.“When he reneged on Canberra (in 2014), he was told things would improve at Wests Tigers. He should have gone to Canberra.”NRL TRIPLE SIGNING WINNERS AND LOSERSLeague Central TV: NRL's biggest stars decide their futuresThe Sunday Telegraph can also reveal:* Tedesco, Aaron Woods and Mitch Moses were almost certain to re-sign with Wests Tigers six weeks ago until the club sacked life coach Joe Wehbe, who has significant influence over a number of star players.* Tedesco never signed with Canterbury.“You have to ask why your captain and best player want to leave?” a friend close to the pair said.“All of them were set to re-sign before the Wehbe drama blew-up. They were all set to sign. How could you stuff it up? All four would have stayed.“All Wests Tigers had to do was keep Wehbe. They could have signed and gotten rid of him later. But once they got rid of him, that was it.“That turned everything. ‘Woodsy’ is very tight with him.”BLAME CLUB, NOT THE PLAYERSThe club’s action distanced the players they were trying to keep. Photo: Mark EvansTedesco was most impressed with Bulldogs coach Des Hasler during negotiations but eventually shifted to the Roosters.Another source said: “He never backflipped on Canterbury because he never signed there.”Tedesco has agreed to terms with the Roosters.There is no doubt Tedesco will flourish at Bondi playing alongside Mitch Pearce, Luke Keary, Michael Gordon, Latrell Mitchell and Blake Ferguson.Roosters legend and club official Anthony Minichiello will also mentor Tedesco, the pair friends from playing with Italy.There is continuing speculation that the Roosters may though have to offload Shaun Kenny-Dowall, possibly to Newcastle, to accommodate Tedesco.

Again, the mantra that Uncle Nick gets who he wants , never seems to ring alarm bells at NRL HQ.

Greenturd really favours a few teams, even his lauded bunker which was his idea has done nothing to improve the game

How anyone can think there is an undeniable advantage to the cap to 3/4 teams by this unfettered TPA system is dreaming, much like Toddy Boy. He and Grant seem to think as long as the Broncos, Dogs and Roosters are fine , it's all good

As for,his attention to western Sydney, it seems to reach no further than Belmore, wouldn't be a stretch to think his reception at Penrith or Parra if he opened himself to the fans would be a PR disaster.

The refs yesterday were head scratching poor, we were sitting high up and the offside allowed at the ruck to the Riff was amazing, even the females with me asked was there a reason it was not penalised. As Tooves said, there needs to be an investigation.

"I think we'd be celebrating it regardless if it was our last premiership, or if we won it more recently. At the end of the day we're recognising the guys that did the hard work and won the comp. There's no shame in that and they deserve every…"

"I knew that was going to happen. We usually change designs every 2 years and when I saw our heritage jersey I thought "bet this is our home jersey moving forward"
Though I love our current home jersey, the heritage is nice too."

"What a great question. What's happening here is a readjustment of the Overton window. This renewed focus on leftist hate speech is exactly that. Calling anyone you disagree with a Nazi or fascist isn't just left wing, it is back in the realm of the…"

Replies

Bup April 23, 2017 at 8:17am

No one believes this shite
BlacJac April 23, 2017 at 8:24am

Brown paper bags had a lot to do with it too
- Longfin Eel > BlacJac April 23, 2017 at 8:43am
  
  Yes. Anyone who believes otherwise is either very naive or stupid.
HH - Love You Iongi Time! April 23, 2017 at 8:42am

Uncle Nick is a saint and miracle worker. Scraping together some of the clubs last coin to convince Tedesco that his club can give him what he needs. Progressing his career only to gain no financial benefit.
Deadset April 23, 2017 at 8:45am

Again, the mantra that Uncle Nick gets who he wants , never seems to ring alarm bells at NRL HQ.

Greenturd really favours a few teams, even his lauded bunker which was his idea has done nothing to improve the game

How anyone can think there is an undeniable advantage to the cap to 3/4 teams by this unfettered TPA system is dreaming, much like Toddy Boy. He and Grant seem to think as long as the Broncos, Dogs and Roosters are fine , it's all good

As for,his attention to western Sydney, it seems to reach no further than Belmore, wouldn't be a stretch to think his reception at Penrith or Parra if he opened himself to the fans would be a PR disaster.

The refs yesterday were head scratching poor, we were sitting high up and the offside allowed at the ruck to the Riff was amazing, even the females with me asked was there a reason it was not penalised. As Tooves said, there needs to be an investigation.
Cranky Brad is here!!! April 23, 2017 at 8:52am

We thought parra was a baskeg case but tigers have done one of the biggest stuff ups in the game. Put themselves back 5 years now.
Ghost Fromdapast April 23, 2017 at 8:57am

He was considering sacrifying everything and joining us if we changed our name to PARRAMARTYR !
Parrakeet April 23, 2017 at 8:57am

Can someone tell Tedesco he is a good player but Jaryd Hayne did it all in low performing Eels team. He won't reach JH ability ever by going to an NRL team that needs 16 points from ref to win a grand final 3 years ago against Manly.
macybrown April 23, 2017 at 9:01am

Not classy! What a complete load of BS!
Unmanly & publicly ungracious comments about his departing club. Not nice for the fans.
Sick of these lot blaming everyone but themselves for "wanting to play finals footy". Wish they'd all grow up and own it ... nothing without the fans that support the game.
Parrakeet April 23, 2017 at 9:13am

On you Macy they need to own the blame. Jarryd stayed with Eels and changed codes to leave so let's bring him home in a year or two. I feel so sorry for Tigers fans who have nothing. Fancy going to a latte sipping team of posers.

of 8

This reply was deleted.

Eels Blogs

Tedesco sacrificed 700k to be the best

Replies

More stuff to read

Eels blogs

1947 RUGBY LEAGUE NEWS (16 pages) EELS FIRST EVER GAME

2025 WRAP WITH RYLESY

Three Sydney clubs circle Radley

Some Rumours circling Pezet

Note: this page contains paid content.

Social Blogs

Kirk, Part 3: The Deep Divide

Did a blog get deleted

Grandson

LUKE METCALF

Note: this page contains paid content.