Veteran rugby league journalist Phil Rothfield and cricketing legend Michael Clarke have butted heads in a heated argument over a second involving Roosters stars Joseph Suaalii and James Tedesco.
Rothfield broke the news final week that Suaalii had signed a one-year extension to stay with the Tricolours till the tip of 2024.
It means the membership faces an enormous choice concerning their long-term fullback with Tedesco off contract on the similar time.
In his Monday column, Rothfield identified a second through the Tricolours’ win on Saturday afternoon when the 19-year-old broke by the Warriors’ defence.
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Suaalii opted in opposition to passing the ball to Tedesco on the within and as an alternative ran himself earlier than offloading to Sam Walker who dived over to attain the attempt.
While Rothfield pressured Suaalii was “not a selfish player”, he stated the second would solely shine a highlight on the fullback battle. He additionally likened the scenario to that of the Rabbitohs with champion halfback Adam Reynold.
By the tip of 2024, Tedesco will probably be 32 and Suaalii solely 21, with each desirous to put on the No.1 jersey and the Kangaroos skipper reportedly already starting discussions for an extension.
“I wrote about the Joseph Suaalii and James Tedesco situation today, they are both off-contract at the end of next year,” Rothfield stated on the Big Sports Breakfast.
“There was a big incident in that game on Saturday, when Suaalii made the break down the left side off Luke Keary, he had Tedesco unmarked inside him and didn’t pass to him.
“That just gets tongues wagging moments like that.”
“Hang on, you think Suaalii didn’t pass to Tedesco, hang on a second, because they both want the fullback position, so they aren’t happy with each other?,” Clarke replied.
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“Have you read my column? Did you watch the game?” Rothfield requested.
“I watched parts of it, so please tell me what are you saying here?” Clarke stated.
“You’re challenging me, so I will challenge you if you’ve actually read the column… well maybe you should because I clearly said in the column Clarkey that Joseph Suaalii is not a selfish player,” Rothfield stated.
“I also said in the column, as great a player as he is, he is going to make a thousand mistakes over the next ten years.
“I just said that there was a perception when this happened that it could have been regarded as selfish, and it was coincidental with the debate over the two players wanting the jersey.”
Clarke hit again, saying he doesn’t consider each gamers do not “have a selfish bone in their body” however agreed each have ambitions to put on the No.1 jersey sooner or later.
“I don’t think they would do that at all, I don’t think that would ever be the case, I think you are spot on, they’d both love to play (fullback),” Clarke stated.
“Tedesco is No.1 for NSW and Australia and this young kid will of course want to play fullback at some stage, but I don’t think either of those players would do that on a footy field.”
Warriors Press Conference | 06:02
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Rothfield additionally pointed to the departure of Reynolds from the Rabbitohs after the Redfern-based membership weren’t prepared to supply the prolonged extension the veteran halfback was searching for.
Reynolds finally signed with the Broncos and the Roosters might have the same name to make subsequent season.
“I’d rather put it down to experience, but it was just the fact that this debate had been going on, Joseph wants to play fullback, he’s desperate to play fullback,” Rothfield stated.
“What I wrote this morning, this might be the Roosters’ Adam Reynolds moment where Reynolds was basically, because of his age and salary cap pressure, and there were kids coming through.
“They very reluctantly wouldn’t give him an extension to what he was looking for, and I’m not saying this is going to happen with Tedesco… I don’t know if he is the best player in the game, but he is in the conversation.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au