Tedesco happy to line up for Italy in favourite spot

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 then overlooked for Josh Mansour after Boyd withdrew with injury, he still found the positives.

“I was disappointed. I wanted to make it,” Tedesco ( right) said. “But I didn’t really get the sh-- s – that’s not my personality. I have had a lot of things to overcome, like injuries, and I never got the sh-- s.

“It was more about looking at it in a positive way and bouncing back. 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.

“Playing for Italy gives me a chance to play in all the games and in my favourite fullback spot,” he said.

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”.

“I am very passionate about playing for Italy and am passionate about that side of my family, I am pretty close to them,” Tedesco said. “I stayed with my Nonna ( grandmother) and Nonno ( grandfather) a few years ago when I was at the Tigers.

“They are always proud when I am going to pull on that Italian jersey. In that first World Cup, I didn’t know much about my heritage but my Nonna expressed how important it was. She told of her story, how she came over here to give my Dad and his brothers and sisters a better life.

“The sacrifices she made for my Dad and her family.”