Tedesco wants to lead Blues to series victory Morgan pushes Clifford pairing
SYDNEY Roosters star James Tedesco has put his hand up to captain NSW in this year’s Origin series to make amends after losing the shield to Queensland.
Tedesco led the Blues last year when Boyd Cordner went down with concussion but he failed to secure the series with Queensland winning the decider in Brisbane.
He also didn’t finish Origin III after suffering a head knock when he collected the knee of Josh Papalii on a kick return midway through the first half.
That Origin decider defeat has left the game’s leading fullback desperate for another crack at the NSW captaincy. “I enjoyed the role and it was awesome running out in game two in front of our home stadium,” Tedesco said.
“I don’t really rem member much of game three, which was disappointing. “I feel like we’ve got a you young squad and I’ve been there for a while, so I’m happy to be one of the leaders ... Tedesco feels like he is ready to take the next step in his career as a leader, starting in clubland with the Roosters.’’
COWBOYS co-captain Michael Morgan has declared Jake Clifford is the man to stand alongside him in the halves, with the young No 7 best suited to bring out the best in the premiership-winner’s game.
With a season disrupted by injury behind him, the 29year-old has risen through his first full pre-season in years, unencumbered by the shoulder complaints that limited him to just six games in 2020.
His absence ensured there was a constant recycling of the North Queensland halves in a lacklustre campaign, with Clifford, Scott Drinkwater, Daejarn
Asi, Ben Hampton and Mitch Dunn all named at various times.
While Morgan (pictured) is unsure who coach Todd Payten will select in the halves with him for their round one clash against Penrith, he has backed Clifford to own the jersey and allow the State of Origin veteran to slot in at five-eighth.
Running the football has always been the skipper’s strength, and he believes the 23-year-old – who will head to the Newcastle Knights next year – is the man to help return him to his best.
“He’s had a really good preseason, he’s grown a lot in confidence and we’ve seen some really good things from him,” Morgan said.
“The way he left last year to the way he’s come back and finished the pre-season, it’s like he’s a completely different player.
“I hope he’s our No 7. “Hopefully, if the opportunity presents itself, I’m running at the right time. I just want to be making good decisions, and if the decision to run is there I want to be confident enough to take it.”
Should Clifford be the man to form the scrumbase pairing, it would cause yet another backline reshuffle from last campaign as Payten attempts to squeeze as much star power as he can into the game-day 17.
Drinkwater played much of 2020 in jersey six but now finds himself in a tussle for the fullback spot alongside marquee man Valentine Holmes. Hamiso TabuaiFidow is another man who can fill that void, while his electric speed has made him a tantalising prospect on both the wing and in the centres.
But a smorgasbord of attacking weapons could be exactly what Morgan needs to continue easing the pressure off him.
Morgan confirmed he was raring and firing for the forthcoming contest against the Panthers.
“I am confident, getting through a tough pre-season, it gave me confidence in my body,” he said.
COWBOYS co-captain Michael Morgan has anointed Jake Clifford as the man to stand alongside him when the club kicks off its 2021 season against Penrith next weekend.
Morgan believes the young halfback, who appears to be in a twohorse race with Scott Drinkwater after last weekend’s trial match, is the player best suited to bring out the best in the premiership-winner’s game.
Morgan said yesterday during the Cowboys season launch that he had emerged from the pre-season without any remnants of the shoulder injury that robbed him of most of the 2020 NRL season.
The halfback said he was keen to get back on the field and believed it should be Clifford who had first crack at joining him in the halves.