Blues No.1 Tedesco set to be rested for Roosters
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NSW fullback James Tedesco has indicated he may be rested for the Sydney Roosters in Sunday afternoon's clash with the Gold Coast Titans after a gruelling State of Origin campaign.
Tedesco flew home from Brisbane with Blues teammates on Thursday following their six-point loss to the Maroons in Origin III to be greeted by fans at The Star in Sydney in a hero's reception.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson had already ruled out Blues skipper Boyd Cordner for the clash while Maroons prop Dylan Napa is still sidelined with the ankle injury which kept him out of Origin III.
The Tricolours have also lost Victor Radley through suspension and Tedesco added he could also miss the tussle with the Titans.
"I think so, I don't know, I might be having a bit of a rest," Tedesco said.
"My body is sweet, just more I haven't really had a rest for the year so far.
"If it's sweet I'll play but will speak to Robbo tomorrow and see what happens."
Many experts tipped Tedesco as a strong contender for the player of the series honours on Wednesday after a consistent Origin campaign, but the Blues fullback was overlooked for opposite number Billy Slater, who took out the Wally Lewis Medal.
Tedesco said he congratulated Slater on a decorated representative career after the game, and saw the lighter side to missing out on the accolade.
"I think that intercept probably hurt me a bit, to be honest," Tedesco grinned in reference to his errant pass which led to a Valentine Holmes try.
"Jimmy [James Maloney] came up to me straight away and said don't worry about it mate, just keep playing footy. I think that's the big thing, if you dwell on it too much the game will get away from you.
"I felt like I reacted well and come up with a few good plays after that. I'm happy with how I went in the series, to play good footy at this level is really confidence boosting."
After a slow start at the Roosters, the form of Tedesco in the Origin series under coach Brad Fittler has him primed for a threatening end to the regular season at his new club.
With Slater's vacant Australian fullback role up for grabs, the 25-year-old made no secret he wanted to nab the position.
Match Highlights: Maroons v Blues
"If I can finish the year well for the Roosters and get a call up to the Australian side, that's a goal for me," Tedesco said.
"[But] I don't want to think about it too much, the goal for me now is to play some semi-finals footy with the Roosters, which I'm pretty excited about.
"I haven't played semi-finals before. With the team we have there we're starting to find some combinations. You never know what could happen.
"It's always hard moving to a new club, it was a new thing for me. Coming in here and the confidence Freddie gave me and the rest of the boys is something I'll take back to club land."
