![\"Christian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1790928145_522_635402f1698dc5687fb8f98be5c093fe76cbc56f.png\")
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October 2, 2026 \u2014 3:30pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Last year, Sydney Roosters powerbrokers started to worry about their champion captain James Tedesco.<\/p>\n Not about his form, his age or whether the end was nigh. They were concerned he might finish his career with \u201cjust\u201d two NRL premierships, and whether that was enough for a man who had done everything in rugby league and so much for the Tricolours.<\/p>\n Tedesco and Cooper Cronk arrived from Wests Tigers and Melbourne respectively, and helped the Roosters to premiership glory in 2018 and 2019.<\/p>\n Cronk will never have to buy a chai latte in the eastern suburbs again. When Tedesco eventually retires, which may not be at the end of next season, he will go down as an even more significant figure for the club.<\/p>\n Tedesco will bring up a decade at the Roosters next year. He became captain, won the Dally M Medal twice<\/a>, led NSW to an Origin series win and Australia to a World Cup victory, and has been one of the constants for the Tricolours in recent years when millions of dollars worth of talent and experience have retired, switched clubs or codes.<\/p>\n Which takes us back to that meeting with a few influential people at the club who realised time was no longer on their side, and they needed to take action to help \u201cTeddy\u201d reach rugby league\u2019s promised land at least one more time.<\/p>\n Enter Daly Cherry-Evans.<\/a><\/p>\n Cherry-Evans was suddenly available because he could not strike a fresh deal with Manly. Not only did the Queensland and Kangaroos halfback have big-game experience, and could help develop Roosters No.7 Sam Walker, but he was viewed as the man who could make life easier for Tedesco.<\/p>\n Having rising star Walker and a calm head like Cherry-Evans pulling the strings would allow Tedesco to take more of a back seat and play his natural game.<\/p>\n But the main motivation for signing Cherry-Evans was to help Tedesco win a third title that club heavyweights believe he so richly deserves. That is how highly regarded Tedesco is in the east.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you first think when \u2018Chez\u2019 signed?\u201d Tedesco asked this masthead during the week.<\/p>\n We quickly pointed out an opinion piece that was published supporting the signing, which appeared under the headline: Daly Cherry-Evans is officially a Rooster. Good luck stopping them winning the comp in 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had Sammy [Walker] here, but the experience Chez brings in big games, his knowledge, his leadership \u2026 Sammy has learnt so much from him, so [Cherry-Evans] hasn\u2019t just set us up for now, he\u2019s set us up for the future,\u201d Tedesco said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been blown away by how well his body is for a 37-year-old. He doesn\u2019t miss a session or a game; he still does extras.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes you get to the age he is and you limp through. But he\u2019s not doing that at all.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a gentle soul \u2013 he didn\u2019t want to rub anyone the wrong way \u2013 but through the Origin period, and after that, his leadership came to the fore, and he\u2019s taken control, which is why we got him here.<\/p>\n \u201cHe doesn\u2019t want to step on anyone\u2019s toes, but I\u2019ve encouraged him to talk whenever. I told him they don\u2019t need to hear my voice all the time, and your knowledge is very valuable. He\u2019s been awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Article Cherry-Evans spent 15 seasons at Manly, and still lives on the northern beaches. The locals have wished him all the best this week, even though he is not wearing maroon and white.<\/p>\n The veteran playmaker says he did not need long to realise what Tedesco meant to the Roosters.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been lucky enough to play alongside Teddy before \u2013 I certainly knew the player he was, and had a really good idea about the leader he was, and that\u2019s only been amplified spending more time with him on a week-to-week basis,\u201d Cherry-Evans said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a fantastic player, a great leader and he\u2019s become a really good friend during it all.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll definitely be playing for my skipper this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n More NRL grand final coverage<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Friday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Roosters](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/9a424ade5de13a881edf3c38fd34b3f0e7a8eef2.jpeg\")
Roosters captain James Tedesco and Daly Cherry-Evans have developed a special bond in 2026.Wolter Peeters<\/p>\n![\"Long](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4e251aacaa7b4b140fa7beb522f478aab6af7568.jpeg\")
Long road to the decider: James Tedesco and Daly Cherry-Evans at Roosters training in March.Max Mason-Hubers<\/p>\n![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/5f94f57901d28580934d7246d82027e331e634a7.jpeg\")
James Tedesco with Nick Politis after the 2019 grand final.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Nick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/15e041e45200398c0dae5114d45cdcdc324ef686.jpeg\")
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