Tedesco’s happy with Italian job

STAR fullback James Tedesco has shaken off his shock Kangaroos snub to declare: “I’m so proud to wear this Italian jumper.”

The Rugby League Players Association player of the year was a surprise omission from coach Mal Meninga’s 24-man Australian squad as he opted for Billy Slater, Darius Boyd and Tom Trbojevic as his fullbacks.

When he was overlooked for Josh Mansour when Boyd withdrew with injury, Tedesco still found the positives.

“I was disappointed. I wanted to make it,” Tedesco said. “But I didn’t really get the s**s – that’s not my personality.

“I have had a lot of things to overcome, like injuries, and I never got the s**s.

“Rather than be a negative I look at it as a positive because I can now represent Italy. I’m still only young, I still have plenty of years to get that fullback spot and Aussie jersey.”

Once Meninga overlooked him, Tedesco wasted no time making himself available for Italy, the nation he made his Test debut with in the 2013 World Cup.

His grandparents, Carmela and Salvatore, arrived in Australia from Italy in the early 1960s. He is playing for them and their courage to leave Italy for a “better life”.