Tedesco set for a break after Origin triumph

The veteran fullback has endured a brutal year on and off the field where he’s faced criticism for the first time in his career.

But after a fantastic showing for the Blues on Wednesday night, he’ll get the chance to rest up this weekend after a gruelling 2022 campaign that included 24 games for the Roosters, three for the Blues and six at the World Cup.

Joseph Manu will replace Tedesco at fullback for the game at the SCG that has been moved from Allianz Stadium due to the women’s FIFA World Cup, while Queensland star Lindsay Collins will back up.

“It’s been a big few months for Ted. It’s been planned for quite a few weeks that he’d be rested this week,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.

“That was my decision. I knew week to week that Origin is a big beast, and I’ve done it (rest players) quite a bit in the past to Ted and other players. It was time to give him a rest this week.

“It wasn’t a decision based on this week. It was a decision a few weeks ago to give that time off because it accumulates. He’ll get a rest and then he’ll come back and go hard again for the last seven rounds.”

While Tedesco won’t play, the Roosters do get Brandon Smith back from a broken thumb in what will be his first game since round 12.

The nuggety hooker will come off the bench against his former team, with Robinson expecting him to provide plenty of “impact” after Smith made a successful return in reserve grade last week.

“He’s worked really hard on his game and on the style that we want him to play. I expect him to be himself, come on and add that physicality off the bench and enjoy his footy,” he said.

“He would have played last week if we had a game. He obviously played last week for reserve grade, and he was pushing for the Manly game (round 18) which would have been very, very early. This was the right time to come back.”

The news isn’t so good for halfback Sam Walker, who still hasn’t been cleared to return from an ACL injury.

The talented playmaker was supposed to be back in reserve grade last week but was a late scratching due to an injury that is proving to be more frustrating than first anticipated.

“He won’t play this week in reserve grade. It’s still not quite right,” Robinson said.

“It’s a frustrating one for him and for us because it’s just taking that bit longer. It’s sort of an undefined recovery time because it’s not a surgical one, and it’s a top-end movement that he needs to do with the knee.

“He’s fast, agile and a 360-degree mover, but it’s just taking a bit longer than we want.”

Originally published as James Tedesco won’t play for the Roosters against the Storm at the SCG