Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco plans to discuss his future with the club after the rugby league World Cup. He would like to remain for the 2028 season, but has not made a final decision.
Tedesco turns 34 in the new year, but he won the Clive Churchill Medal as player of the match after the Roosters beat the Newcastle Knights in the NRL grand final. He told the Sydney Morning Herald he was in no hurry to decide what comes next and would revisit the question after his World Cup commitments with the Kangaroos.
“Ideally, I can play 2027 and 2028, and after that I’d be pretty content,” Tedesco said. He added that he would not want to join another club. After the tournament, he plans to talk with the Roosters about whether one more season is possible.
The club has farewelled six members of its championship squad. Spencer Leniu moved to Parramatta, Angus Crichton and Mark Nawaqanitawase are switching to rugby union, Connor Watson joined St George Illawarra, Daniel Tupou retired and Daly Cherry-Evans is heading to England. Nawaqanitawase may be the most difficult departure to replace because of the aerial threat he brought to the side.
Tedesco said he trusted the club’s young players and academy to keep the team competitive. He pointed to homegrown fullback Rex Bassingthwaighte, who is likely to begin his first-grade career on the wing. The Roosters have used a similar transition with future fullback stars Anthony Minichiello and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Reece Walsh, Tedesco’s Australia teammate, praised him after the final this week. Tedesco said he had only recently spoken properly with Walsh and had admired his performances for Brisbane. Reports that Herbie Farnworth could join the Roosters in 2028 remain speculative, while Farnworth said last week that his preference was to agree a deal with the Dolphins.