He’s in the conversation himself, but Russell Fairfax is adamant James Tedesco is on track to become the Sydney Roosters’ greatest fullback.
So highly does Fairfax rate Tedesco that he believes the 26-year-old may even surpass rugby league Immortals Bob Fulton and Arthur Beetson and the likes of Sonny Bill Williams and Cooper Cronk as the club’s best-ever signing.
“It doesn’t happen in a couple of seasons. It takes more than just two years. If he can play like he is now for the next five years, yes, I think he can,” Fairfax told AAP on Thursday.
The Roosters have been blessed with some freakish fullbacks over the years, with Fairfax named in the No.1 jumper in the club’s team of the 20th century before Anthony Minichiello made a stunning switch from the wing after debuting for the Tricolours in 2000.
Minichiello won the Golden Boot as the world’s premier player in 2005 and played 19 Tests for Australia.
Ian Schubert also played for his country after starring at fullback as man of the match in the Roosters’ 1975 grand final triumph, while ask any “Easts” fan and they’ll tell you “Rocket” Rod Silva and his deadly left-foot step carried the team through the 1990s.
Fairfax, though, says Tedesco will likely go down as the greatest custodian in the Roosters’ 111-year history.
“The good part about it is they’ll be naming him as the best fullback in the club. I’m wiped. There’s no drama about that for me,” the humble great said.
“He’s played for Australia at fullback and he’s played the house down for them. And if he plays the house down for us, Australia and NSW, there’s no doubt he’ll become the No.1 fullback here.”
Fairfax believes Tedesco is the complete package.
“He always run into a hole – or 75 per cent of the time. When he does that, he’s clever enough (to capitalise),” Fairfax said ahead of the Roosters’ preliminary final blockbuster with Melbourne at the SCG on Saturday night.
“He’s got pace, he’s got power, he can make that little hole into a big hole. That’s what I like about what he does.
“And all the players that play alongside him know that he can pass the ball if he has to. He doesn’t have to but if you’re there, you can take a bit of the weight off him.
“If he’s running by himself, two or three players will tackle him. But if he has a player either side of him and they’re running up against three players, they’re going to be wary of what he’s going to do. That’s the beauty of it. He helps the team play good and the team helps him.”