Sydney Roosters captain Boyd Cordner believes “freakish” fullback James Tedesco has achieved greatness this season and statistics support his case.
Already the Roosters’ player of the year in their 2018 premiership, Tedesco is enjoying the best season of his career in their title defence.
After the completion of the regular season last weekend, Tedesco topped the NRL in three major categories – tackle busts (124), line breaks (25) and average running metres (187) – according to Fox Sports stats.
A favourite for the Dally M, Tedesco will also enter the finals with the most tries and most try involvements of all fullbacks and his numbers show an increase on last season across most key categories.
The 26-year-old had just three games all year where he didn’t score a try or break the line.
“He’s a freakish talent,” says Cordner of Tedesco, who collected his second Brad Fittler Medal as NSW Origin player of the year on Monday.
“To see the year he had last year and then to think that someone who says he is going to have a better year this year is pretty hard to believe.
“But he has done it.”
Cordner says the key for Tedesco’s rise has been reproducing his brilliance week in week out.
“Just the consistency he has had week in week out in such a high level competition … is pretty impressive,” he said.
“That’s what separates the good players from the great players.
“You see some really good players play some outstanding games but they are a bit inconsistent.
“I think with Teddy now, where he has taken his game to, where people are realising and seeing that.
“You know you’re a great player when people come to expect a 200-metre-plus game week in week out. He delivers all the time.”
With Tedesco to the fore, the Roosters will enter the finals series having scored the most tries this year, while Melbourne have the best defence with just 300 points conceded.
Parramatta also provide strong statistical reason for rival finals teams to be concerned.
Their rookie winger Maika Sivo has been a wrecking ball all season, claiming the Ken Irvine Medal with 20 tries, and tying Tedesco with 25 linebreaks.
Eels halfback Mitchell Moses is having the best season of his career, setting up a league-high 29 tries.
Eels hooker Reed Mahoney has got through the most work in defence with 1052 tackles.
However, Brisbane’s middle has been the most damaging as a collective, with Tevita Pangai, Joe Ofahengaue and Payne Haas averaging 437 metres a match between them.
NRL SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Tries: Maika Sivo (20) – Parramatta
Points: Latrell Mitchell (251) – Sydney Roosters
Try assists: Mitchell Moses (29) – Parramatta
Line break assists: Luke Keary (25) – Sydney Roosters, Cody Walker (25) – South Sydney
Linebreaks: James Tedesco (25) – Sydney Roosters, Maika Sivo (25) – Parramatta
Tackle busts: James Tedesco (122) – Sydney Roosters
Average metres: James Tedesco (187) – Sydney Roosters
Average tackles: Cameron McInnes (45) – St George Illawarra
Offloads: Corey Harawira-Naera (55) – Canterbury
40-20 kicks: Daly Cherry-Evans (4) – Manly
*Stats: Fox Sports Stats