Tedesco admits favouritism weighed Roosters down

Scott Bailey | September 12, 2023

James Tedesco has admitted the Sydney Roosters’ pre-season favouritism was an unwanted weight on the team’s shoulders as their first half of 2023 spiralled.

The injury-plagued Roosters enter Friday night’s semi-final against Melbourne off the back of six straight wins, having faced a month-and-a-half of do-or-die football.

The favourites to end Penrith’s run of premierships at the start of 2023, Roosters recruit Brandon Smith even declared in February the club had the best roster in the competition.

But they fell to a 7-10 start as a run of injuries, suspensions and poor form left them as low as 14th on the ladder.

“At the start of the year there was a lot of expectation and pressure for us to perform,” Tedesco said. 

“We probably held onto that for a bit, like a weight on our shoulders. 

“Maybe because of the pre-season signings and how our team looked on paper, I guess that’s why everyone had us up the top.

“Maybe we believed that without actually working for it. I’m not saying we didn’t work for it, but it’s not just because the team you can think things are going to happen.

“You have to work for the team, do the little things right and that’s how wins will come.”

Tedesco said only the club’s dire predicament after the Origin series acted to release the shackles, with the Tricolours having played with more freedom since.

“After that Origin period we just went well we have to win every game,” he said. 

“We just said well let’s take that weigh and expectation off our shoulders and go out and play for each other. 

“No one else is going to help or change that. It’s just us 17 blokes out there doing our job. 

“Just having those good honest conversations as a team and letting go the reins for a bit and playing footy.”

The Roosters confirmed on Tuesday they would be without Joey Manu (hamstring) for Friday’s clash, joining fellow outside back Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Daniel Tupou and Billy Smith on the sideline.

Drew Hutchison and Corey Allan have been left to start in the centres with rookie Fetalaiga Paulo partnering Jaxson Paulo on the wing.