Entering the finals, there’s arguably no player in better touch than James Tedesco.

Even at 32 years of age and on year-by-year contracts, Tedesco is playing like a man possessed.

So much so that the Roosters fullback is a near lock to win his second Dally M Medal in a couple of weeks time.

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He’s a huge reason why the Roosters have been an offensive juggernaut over the past two months and are a team that no one wants to face in September.

Tedesco is under contract until the end of next season. There’s expected to be an announcement in the coming months which will reveal the fullback has signed on for 2027 as well.

Since joining the Roosters in 2018, he’s earned the reputation of consistently playing at a high level – a trait that Tedesco referred to when he spoke to the media this week.

“I don’t think my game has changed too much. A lot of people are talking about it, but I don’t feel like it’s changed too much,” Tedesco answered when asked about his glittering form this season.

“Over my whole career I feel like I’ve stayed pretty consistent. There are some awards and accolades that come over the years.

“People probably think ‘he’s getting older and not playing rep footy so he’s going to fall off a bit’, but my preparation is still the same as it was ten years ago and I’m really diligent with that every week.”

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 08: James Tedesco of the Sydney Roosters attends the NRL Finals Media OpportunitySource: Getty Images

While he has seldom let his side down, there were some moments during the 2023 season which had fans wondering if the end was near for Tedesco.

Months after reaching 30, Tedesco’s form dipped as the Roosters languished in the bottom half of the ladder.

There were even calls for Tedesco to be dropped from the Blues side, but he retained his spot at the back for all three games in a losing Origin series.

Tedesco would eventually turn his form around as he and the Roosters turned it on to win their last five games of the season to sneak into the 2023 finals series.

Given the burgeoning form of Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards, Tedesco was under pressure to keep the Blues’ No. 1 jersey in 2024.

He was axed for Game I, but ended up playing after Edwards injured his quad in Origin camp.

After the Blues lost the opener though, Tedesco was dropped again.

James Tedesco and Liam Martin. Tedesco, a 23-game Origin veteran, hasn’t represented the Blues since a Game I loss to Queensland last year.Source: Getty Images

Edwards took over and Tedesco hasn’t worn the light blue since.

That Origin snubbing lit a fire under Tedesco.

He clearly took it personally and the stats back it up.

Since Tedesco played in that Origin opener last year, the Roosters No. 1 has been hands down the best fullback in the NRL.

Due to his dominance in that span, you could make a strong case he’s been the best player in the comp.

The Fox Sports Lab dug deep into Tedesco’s form over the past season and a half and they found that since his last game for the Blues (38 games), he leads all fullbacks in the majority of key attacking categories including:

Tries (21) – T-1st

Try Involvements (90) – 1st

Tackle Busts (265) – 1st

Line Breaks (36) – 1st

Line Break Assists (58) – 1st

Wins (23) – T-1st

Tedesco is also second in try assists (45) and fifth in metres gained (174 per game).

On a per game basis, Tedesco leads all fullbacks in try involvements, tackle busts, line breaks and line break assists.

For a more comprehensive look at Tedesco’s dominance compared to other fullbacks, see below:

J. Tedesco – 38 (games played), 21 (tries), 45 (try assists), 174 (metres per game), 265 (tackle busts).

W. Kennedy – 38, 10, 22, 129pg, 124

S. Drinkwater – 37, 15, 46, 121pg, 164

C. Gutherson – 36, 15, 29, 127pg, 101

C. Tracey – 34, 8, 22, 163pg, 121

R. Papenhuyzen – 31, 20, 15, 113pg, 120

K. Weekes – 31, 12, 10, 135pg, 145

J. Bula – 28, 14, 15, 145pg, 103

D. Edwards – 26, 9, 15, 200pg, 150

H. Tabuai-Fidow – 24, 21, 8, 143pg, 120

R.Walsh – 23, 17, 27, 113pg, 112

T. Trbojevic – 22, 14, 25, 160pg, 85

******

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 23: James Tedesco has been in stunning form.Source: Getty Images

Following Game 1 of the 2024 series, the Roosters went onto win nine of their last 11 regular season games to finish in the top four.

Tedesco’s form was so electric over the course of the season, that he finished just one point behind Dally M winner Jahrome Hughes with those two 10 votes ahead of the third placegetter.

While a new-look Roosters outfit have been understandably hot and cold this season following the off-season departures of several experienced players, Tedesco has been a shining light all season, guiding a young, unproven side to 13 wins and a seventh-placed finish.

Tedesco and co. have seemed to have figured things out yet at exactly the right time.

Entering Saturday night’s do-or-die clash with the Sharks, the Roosters have won five of six games including big scalps of the Storm, Bulldogs and Dolphins., but can they keep the magic alive and mount a serious premiership case?

Plenty of stars have emerged for the Roosters this season, notably prop Naufahu Whyte, winger Mark Nawaqanitawase and centre Rob Toia.

Without Tedesco though, they simply aren’t playing finals football in 2025 and if the Chooks are going to make some noise in the post-season, their nifty fullback will have to be at the forefront of everything good they do.