When James Tedesco clapped eyes on Ryan Papenhuyzen at Concord Oval more than two years ago, he knew he was an NRL star in the making.
After first crossing paths at Wests Tigers in 2017, they will do so once again at the SCG on Saturday night, this time both with the No.1 on their backs during the Sydney Roosters’ preliminary final against Melbourne.
When they first met, Tedesco was one of the Tigers’ “big four” before later that year defecting to the Roosters where he is now on the cusp of becoming a two-time back-to-back premiership winner.
While Papenhuyzen, a product of Sydney’s Hills District, was quickly making a name for himself in the Tigers’ under-18s and under-20s sides.
Last season he moved to Melbourne in search of an opportunity and despite arriving as the club’s fourth-pick fullback, he now finds himself the heir apparent to Billy Slater’s No.1 jersey.
“We could see (that he was going to be a star) through Tigers training,” Tedesco said.
“A bit of space or a loose ball, he’d pick it up and go the length. You could always tell he was going to be something special.
“The way Melbourne have brought him through, it’s a credit to them, it’s a credit to him.”
Tedesco only had fleeting interactions with Papenhuyzen throughout their time together at the Tigers, though says he impressed him at every turn.
He also praised Papenhuyzen’s mental resolve to rise up the pecking order to demand selection from coach Craig Bellamy.
At the start of the year he was behind Scott Drinkwater and Jahrome Hughes for the Storm fullback spot.
But Drinkwater has since moved to North Queensland and Hughes shifted into the No.7 jumper to make way for Papenhuzyen.
“He was training here and there (at the Tigers) but every time he came up and trained (alongside the first-grade side), everyone knew he was pretty talented and he had that raw speed,” Tedesco said.
“So to see him playing NRL and playing some pretty good footy, it’s exciting for him. He was down the pecking order and he’s done his time on the bench and he’s definitely their No.1 fullback.
“I didn’t spend too much time with him but he’s a good bloke and a good player.”
