Tedesco aims to break Raiders’ hearts again

JAMES Tedesco is preparing to break the hearts of the Raiders faithful for a second time, five years after backflipping on a deal to sign with the club.

Tedesco could be easily wearing the No.1 jersey for the Raiders after agreeing to accept a three-year deal worth about $1.9 million to leave the Tigers for the 2015 season.

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart and chief executive Don Furner were filthy that Tedesco had a belated change of heart, Furner saying at the time he was “bitterly disappointed”.

Tedesco was well within his rights under the Round 13 rule, which has since been scrapped.

Regardless, Canberra fans have been left pondering “what if” the incumbent Test fullback had joined the Raiders at the time.

While the move is ancient history and plenty has changed since, Tedesco said the saga was a “bit of a shambles”.

“That was so long ago,” Tedesco said after another star performance for the Roosters on Saturday night. “I was young at the time and had a big offer from them.

“It sounded good at the time, but once I had a good think about it, I didn’t want to leave where I was.

“I was very comfortable at the Tigers, having been brought up through that club and I didn’t want to leave.

“I have ended up here and another grand final. I can’t argue with that.”

Tedesco was slated as a big-name replacement for Anthony Milford.

He was among a host of big-name players the Raiders missed out on, including Josh Mansour, Mick Ennis and Kevin Proctor.

“Everyone thought I signed but I agreed over the phone,” Tedesco said. “I went down on Thursday and [Stuart] rang me on Saturday to have a decision. It was a very quick thinking process.

“I was 21 at the time. I didn’t even know about the June 30 rule or whatever that was.

“When I had a bit of time to think about it, I felt a bit more conformance to stay at the Tigers and now I have ended up here.”