Veteran rugby league reporter Phil Rothfield has questioned why the Roosters allowed captain James Tedesco to vacation whereas their season was on the road in opposition to the Storm.
Trent Robinson’s aspect went right down to the Storm on Saturday 30-16, with New Zealand worldwide Joey Manu filling in at fullback.
Meanwhile, Tedesco, who’s on a contract price greater than $1 million a 12 months, was afforded time away and travelled to Byron Bay together with his spouse as a substitute of attending the Tricolour’s essential conflict.
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The 30-year-old endured a troublesome Origin interval and was one of the vital closely criticised NSW gamers after failing to make an impression for the Blues.
Rothfield defined he believed Tedesco ought to have been together with his workforce in Round 20 whereas a number of different Origin stars attended their respective workforce’s video games.
“I reckon James Tedesco was entitled to have the weekend off because it was a particularly draining Origin series and they want him back,” Rothfield stated on the Big Sports Breakfast.
“For whatever shot they have at making the finals and they want the old James Tedesco back so he needed a freshen up.
“However, you look at the TV camera at Belmore Sports Ground on the weekend and Patrick Carrigan flew down from Brisbane to help Kevin Walters coach.
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“Daly Cherry-Evans leads at Manly and plays every week. Nathan Cleary, who pulled his hamstring, he flew to Townsville with the Panthers a couple of weeks ago.
“Was around the sheds, now my view is this, Tedesco is the captain, the leader of that club. Their season was on the line the other day.
“I absolutely appreciate he was given a game off to rest his frame… but my goodness I cannot understand why he was not there to talk to the players at halftime and full-time as moral support.
“But I can understand others totally disagree but it’s an issue that is out there and being discussed.”
However, rugby league legend Laurie Daley held the other opinion and believed the gun fullback desperately wanted time away.
He pointed to the hefty criticism levelled in direction of the NSW skipper after back-to-back Origin losses.
“I think if he has been given time off and the club knew he wasn’t going, I’m all for it,” Daley stated.
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“I thought the club would have asked him to play because their season is on the line, but given his experience, the toll that Origin has had on him.
“I know he’s got a pregnant partner, the toll that would have been put on her as well, it might have been the right decision.
“Only the Roosters would know.”
Daley additionally believed it was unfair to match gamers like Carrigan and Cherry-Evans taking part in and attending their workforce’s video games.
The Queensland duo each performed key roles within the Maroon’s sequence victory and escaped the wrath of followers and pundits alike.
“The difference between those players… they haven’t been under the same scrutiny as Teddy, they just haven’t been under the same scrutiny,”
“I just think the Roosters would have said ‘go away, stay away’. Clear your mind, clear your head. I think they have told him to stay away.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au