'Everyone was in awe of him, he's still got that aura about him'
Even the world’s best rugby league player can’t wait to run off Sonny Bill Williams. Reigning Dally M Medallist James Tedesco believes Williams’ return to the Sydney Roosters will inspire every single player as Trent Robinson’s back-to-back premiers eye the first NRL title hat-trick.
Williams – who is three days into his fortnight of mandatory quarantine – is tipped to make his first appearance for the Roosters since the 2014 preliminary final in the round-17 grand final rematch with Canberra in the national capital.
But Tedesco is convinced the dual international will have a significant impact at Bondi Junction well before then.
“He brings a lot of experience and the calibre of player he is he’ll be awesome to work with,” Tedesco said.
“We all know from just sniffing around him that there’ll be opportunities from his offloads and powerful running.
“So it’s really exciting.”
Tedesco has no doubts Williams’ presence alone will improve the Roosters, having recalled the New Zealand superstar popping in for a club training session a few years ago after leaving the NRL for another stint in rugby.
“Everyone was in awe of him and he’s still got that aura about him, how good a player he is and how professional he is, the way he holds himself and talks and presents himself,” Tedesco said.
“It’ll be great to see how he prepares for games. We’ve all heard how professional he is and what a player he is so it’ll be awesome to be involved with him.
“Hopefully he’ll definitely lift a lot of our guys.”
Tedesco picked up just about every major individual gong last year but the Test fullback hopes Williams can take his scintillating game to even greater heights.
“We don’t really have much second phase at the moment and that’s Sonny’s strength,” he said.
“We all know how good a player he can be so I’m hoping we can bring the best out of him here at the Roosters and I know he can make me a better player and hopefully I can do that for him too.”
The arrival of Williams is well-timed with the Roosters in the midst of a season flat spot while dealing with an injury crisis.
Six players from last year’s grand final line-up are sidelined, while calf injuries to Josh Morris and Jared Waerea-Hargraves added to the woes.
Tedesco, though, warned fans not to expect Williams to be the Roosters’ saviour.
“It’s not just about one player,” Tedsco said. “It’s not really like he can save us, save the world.
“We’ve got a lot of stuff to work on and Sonny’s not going to come in and save all that.
“He’ll obviously create a lot for us and be a big boost for us but as a team we need to get better and hopefully by the next few weeks we get a few troops back and we start hitting our straps.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments