Brad Fittler believes James Tedesco’s form slump in 2023 came down to the way the Roosters were using him as a back-rower at times and urged them to change their approach.
Tedesco averaged 185 run metres per game last season, but managed just 15 linebreaks and 11 try assists, which was well down on his output from previous years.
Tedesco’s place in the NSW and Kangaroos sides was called into question, but Fittler believes there is a simple solution to get the veteran No.1 back to his best.
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“He was down on form,” Fittler said on Wide World Of Sports’ Freddy and The Eighth podcast.
“What happens with someone like Teddy, he tries to over compensate with runs … he turns into a bit like a back-rower or lock forward.
“They need to play him off two passes, get him on the inside off [Luke] Keary and get him out of dummy-half and first receiver.
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“I don’t know how well he does that and I don’t think he has to. He does so well off that second pass.
“He needs to get out of first receiver and stop wanting to run.”
Immortal Andrew Johns agreed the Roosters’ struggles as a team hurt Tedesco and urged him to change his mindset and focus on what he does well.
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“He was playing in a team that was struggling,” Johns said.
“He was playing first receiver, playing like a front-rower and a halfback and then trying to get in shape as a fullback … you can’t do it all.”
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