Brad Fittler's telling warning to James Tedesco ahead of Origin
The Blues captain is fighting to keep his position after the Origin fallout.
Brad Fittler has warned James Tedesco he will need a big game or risk losing his spot to the emerging pack having captained the Blues to two series defeats in a row. Tedesco came under fire for his Game I performance in Adelaide after a nightmare showing in the devastating defeat.
Tedesco's form for the Roosters has been well-below his standard and while he improved in Game II, the Blues lost the series and the captain wasn't at his vintage best. For the first time in years, fans have fervently questioned Tedesco's place in the team with the likes of Dylan Edwards, Clint Gutherson and Latrell Mitchell all in form.
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After Game I, Blues adviser Greg Alexander rubbished claims Tedesco was at risk of losing his spot. But with the Blues facing an ugly clean sweep at the hands of the marauding Maroons, both Tedesco and Fittler can no longer count on their positions.
And Fittler has admitted Tedesco might need to wind back the clock if he is going to be a certainty to take the Blues forward next year.
“Obviously Teddy needs a big game and there’s a few players that could really relish a big game here to kick-start their season – and to kickstart the Blues again," Fittler said ahead of Game III. “I think that’s important. We got beat last year, as well, so we are coming off a couple of series losses and it hasn’t been great recently.
“Gutho is playing some really good footy and I think Scott Drinkwater is incredibly exciting. “Dylan is going great, he is going really good, and he is most probably so much like Teddy that that is the position he takes if he pushes in.
“I’m not sure if Turbo was in the form of a couple of years ago, then all of a sudden you could say, ‘well, you know what?’ I think Teddy – and he most probably agrees too - is at that age where you either finish really strong, and find a way through it … or he is coming to a tough time, so he can understand that.”
As for his own future, Fittler remained coy and said he would sit down and make a decision. This is of course if the Blues hierarchy opt to ask Fittler to coach on for another year. Fittler has back-to-back series losses and is facing a clean sweep scenario.
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Potentially coaching his last game in Origin, Fittler is reportedly looking at a late change for the Blues side, which could see the likes of Damien Cook drop out of the team.
Braith Anasta asked reporter Phil Rothfield if the rumours were true around Leniu entering for a player on the bench. And Rothfield suggested on Monday night that one of the hookers could be the unfortunate players to miss Game III if the suggestions are true.
“They say Spencer Leniu is going enormous and although he’s picked in jersey No. 19 there’s been a bit of speculation,” Rothfield said on NRL 360. “Well I’m told they’re having a little bit of a thought around the two hookers.
“To knock these buggers off, we’re going to need a rampaging middle forward coming on fresh, just like he does at Penrith.” Fellow reporter Brent Read suggested it would have to be Cook to miss out if Leniu was brought onto the bench.
The move would come as a brutal blow to Cook who didn't even get to play No.9 in Game II when he was called upon in the centres.
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