James Tedesco in emphatic response after 'bullsh**t' Origin uproar

New South Wales fullback James Tedesco has shown why you should never write off a champion having produced one of his best game's this season off the back of his State of Origin nightmare. Tedesco endured his worst night in a Blues jersey last week with the captain coming under fire to hold his spot.

While a number of legends have claimed the criticism has been 'ridiculous', many fans were keen to see how the champion fullback responded for the Roosters on the weekend. And Tedesco was instrumental in helping the Roosters get back to winning ways with a tight 25-24 win over the Bulldogs.

OH NO: Nathan Cleary 'very unlikely' for Origin after Penrith injury fallout

'BULLS**T': League legends let rip over James Tedesco Origin uproar

In the first half, Tedesco followed halfback Luke Keary through the line and went over to score his first try. He was on hand again to score his second try of the half when a favourable bounce found him from a grubber after a Roosters line break.

He finished with two tries, a try assist and 190 running metres in a game that showed his doubters that he wasn't ready to give up his mortgage on the Sky Blues jersey just yet. The win also snapped a three-game losing streak for the Roosters as they sit outside the top eight on points differential.

And after the game, coach Trent Robinson highlighted why Tedesco has been the premier fullback for many years in the NRL. "That's what champions do," he said.

"Champions assume the pressure that's involved and they go, 'All I can do is play'. He carried us right from the start today. He put us on his back and went, 'I'm going to play footy'. He played all different styles today and we needed him. He showed who he is."

Fans were also equally impressed with Tedesco's performance as he looks to find form before State of Origin Game II at Suncorp on 21 June.

On the weekend, Rugby league Immortal and NSW assistant Andrew Johns was fuming about the backlash against Tedesco on Nine's Sunday Footy Show, describing the commentary from within the NRL world as "embarrassing". "These people coming out and bagging James Tedesco, they're embarrassing themselves. It just goes to show how little they know about the game," he said.

"He's the NSW captain, he's been one of the best players for the last five-six years. If you have a look at his stats in that game, I spoke about the stop-start nature of that game, it was very hard to get any flow in the middle of the field.

"For them to come out and bag James Tedesco, it was clueless, it's absolutely ridiculous, I was laughing about it. I just can't believe people would be putting the heat on our captain, but not only that, the best player we've had in five-six years. It's laughable, absolutely laughable."

James Tedesco shrugs of State of Origin criticism

After the game, Tedesco addressed the criticism he received and said the criticism from State of Origin was weighing on him. "From myself, I carry a lot of expectation and weight on my shoulders," Tedesco said.

"I tried to get back to playing my natural footy, instinctive footy, as a fullback. It's been tough but I just wanted to let go of Wednesday night and go out there and enjoy my footy."

Tevita Pangai Junior had a point to prove after an underwhelming Origin debut and set the tone for the Bulldogs by pouncing on a Matt Burton grubber kick for the afternoon's first try. He finished with a team-high 191 run metres.

Addo-Carr was the Bulldogs' best, first dashing away on the line break that gave the Bulldogs their second try. He kept the Bulldogs in the fight in the second half, capitalising on Robinson's decision to shift Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to the wing.Addo-Carr twice beat the Wallaby-in-waiting for second-half tries, the first of which came after he dashed 80 metres down the left flank on a scrum play.

The Roosters again equalised at 24-all after a controversial try from Suaalii, who went over untouched on the right side while Bulldogs centre Paul Alamoti reeled on the ground with what appeared concussion symptoms. After Keary's field goal sunk his side, Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo lamented lapses in intensity.

Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.