‘People keep writing me off’: Dally M winner Tedesco
Scott Bailey |
James Tedesco has declared his best football could still be ahead of him, after defying his critics to sweep to his second Dally M Medal this season.
Tedesco joined some of the game’s absolute elite in becoming a multiple-winner of the Dally M on Wednesday night, after one of the most lopsided counts in history.
The Sydney Roosters fullback finished with 67 points, some 22 clear of the next closest in Nathan Cleary at the end of the regular season.
When Tedesco last won the award in 2019, he was widely considered the best player in the world while winning premierships and State of Origin series.
But this year’s Dally M comes in far different circumstances, after he’d been dropped as both NSW and Australian Test fullback last year.
The 32-year-old has responded with one of the best seasons of his career, prompting a Kangaroos recall for the Ashes before he withdrew this week, deciding instead to be best man at his brother’s wedding.
“I’ve never really felt like my performances or seasons have dipped much,” Tedesco said.
“In 2023, there was a lot of external talk. I probably wasn’t at my highest performance. But my routine and my mentality doesn’t really change.
“I know I am getting older, but my body is feeling as good as ever.
“If I keep fresh every week and I am still enjoying the game, then who knows how long I can play for.
“People keep writing me off and thinking I am going to retire soon. But that drives me to try and be the best version of myself and keep improving.
“I still think my best footy can still be ahead of me.”
Tedesco credited multiple two-hour massages he receives weekly to keep his body in shape, while noting his life has changed significantly since his last Dally M in 2019.
Wednesday night’s ceremony was his first night out with wife Maria since the birth of their second daughter Marlie.
Tedesco’s prize came after he only missed out on last year’s Dally M by one point to Melbourne halfback Jahrome Hughes.
The fullback now only operates in one-year deals with the Roosters, but is expected to start talks on an extension into 2027 soon with no end in sight.
The No.1 was also named Dally M captain of the year, after helping take a Roosters side that lost more than 1000 games of experience last off season to the finals.
“Losing a lot of older experienced guys, you tend to rely on them sometimes,” Tedesco said.
“I didn’t have anyone to rely on so I put the ownership on myself to perform.
“But there is also a balance to that, letting the young guys express themselves and perform. And then not overplaying, which I have been guilty of in the past.
“It was a good learning curve and I felt like I had a good balance this year of leading by example but giving these young guys confidence to go out and play their game.”
MULTIPLE DALLY M WINNERS:
4 – Johnathan Thurston
3 – Andrew Johns
2 – Peter Sterling, Gavin Miller, Michael Potter, Cliff Lyons, Jarryd Hayne, Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith, James Tedesco
AAP
