Trent Robinson has declared James Tedesco must again prove why he’s the best player in the NRL in Sunday’s grand final as the star fullback chases a historic individual grand slam.
Tedesco’s maiden Dally M Medal on Wednesday night left just the Clive Churchill Medal missing from his cabinet ahead of Sunday night’s grand final.
Easily the best player in the NRL over the past two seasons, the Sydney Roosters fullback’s list of accolades is long.
He claimed the Wally Lewis Medal this season for the best player in State of Origin, and has also been NSW’s Brad Fittler Medallist for the past two years.
He also won the Harry Sunderland Medal for Australia’s best player at the end of last year, and is the Roosters’ reigning player of the season with the Jack Gibson Medal.
If the Roosters beat Canberra on Sunday and Tedesco is man of the match, he would become the first player in history to win the Wally Lewis Medal, Dally M, grand final and Clive Churchill in the same year.
But Robinson warned he still had improvement in him and that he must show that on Sunday.
“There is always better. And he can get better,” Robinson said.
“I think it’s proven last night (at the Dally Ms), but he’s got to prove it one more time that he is the best player in the game this year and he wants more.
“He knows he has the physical capability and he’s got the mind for it.
“Where will the game look on five years time? It will look better than it is today. And if Teddy wants to lead the way there he’s got to keep improving.”
The only other players to go close to achieving the grand slam feat are Johnathan Thurston and Peter Sterling.
Thurston claimed the Dally M and Clive Churchill in 2015 without the Wally Lewis Medal, while the State of Origin gong did not exist for Sterling in 1986.
Tedesco’s season for the Roosters is arguably the best of any player this decade, with 34 points he polled in the Dally M’s the most of any player since Jonathan Thurston in 2007.
Regardless of his incredible season, Tedesco won’t let himself reflect until after the year is done.
He still has Sunday’s grand final and two Tests to play for Australia against New Zealand and Tonga.
And he too knows he must rise to a new level on Sunday.
“After the grand final (I will have it sink in),” he said.
“To win (the Dally M) medal it’s a massive achievement.
“But my focus is on Sunday and once that is all done hopefully we can celebrate as winners and look back on an enjoyable year.
“That’s been the focus all year … I have to play my best game of the year on Sunday.”
