What we do know though is that the deal is official. Tedesco agreeing terms with the Raiders in a deal worth $1.9m over 3 seasons. The deal alleged to have trumped the Tigers late counter of 4 years at an alleged similar financial total. The Tigers simply could not match the Raiders offer. The Raiders viewed Tedesco as a marquee signing - something the Tigers rightly wouldn't have viewed him as.
The Raiders, desperate to replace the departing Anthony Milford, had cash to burn and with barely nothing else going for them, had only money as their strongest selling point. Sure, there was the "promise" of an exciting future of change down in Canberra, led by Ricky Stuart - "the world's greatest coach". But what in the world is he changing down there?? And why is he changing it? The roster includes the likes of Jack Wighton, Jared Croker, Reece Robinson. Edrick Lee is on the books although out injured. Mitch Cornish is coming up, Josh McCrone, Josh Papaali, Paul Vaughn, Joel Edwards and Shannon Boyd are all good first graders.
Sure the forward pack has some age but that's barely enough to warrant a clean out as super coach Sticky is doing. The culture at the Raiders has often been criticised too. Is this the reason for a cleanout perhaps? Gone are your Carney's and Dugan's and Thompson's but for too long the NRL club has sold itself as an unattractive option. Not a lot has changed in 2014.
Away from bagging the Raiders though, who are simply conducting business and back to the Wests Tigers. Tedesco's departure opens up some serious questions of their own. In my opinion the most likely candidate to fill the shoes is current fullback Kurtis Rowe. Rowe may be still 12 months off being where the club wants him to be with his output for the team but that will come with further experience, maturity and physical development. I remember plenty of Tigers fans unconvinced of Tedesco's abilities not even 12 months ago. A lot can change in 12 months.
Rowe shows promise and flashes of ability at this point. I've got little doubt that if he continues to work hard at his game he can fill the loss of Tedesco just fine. Another option could well be Mitchell Moses, at least in the short to medium term. With Blake Austin on the books too it does allow the possibility of bringing Moses into the team at fullback. He certainly has the skills to play fullback but would need a run of games in NSW Cup to further convince me he's a viable option there. Some fans have suggested moving David Nofoaluma or Tim Simona to fullback too. I understand those points but i'd be reluctant to move them from their current positions. I'd rather we persisted with Rowe to be honest. I do feel he'll improve with time.
Replacing Tedesco is the easy part in my books because the club has an ever bigger issue to contend with as a result of his departure and it's something the club has alluded to in today's Sydney Morning Herald.
Tigers threaten to stop junior development in wake of Tedesco departure
The above article has the Wests Tigers pleading with the NRL to better protect itself and other clubs who focus on junior development. I think it's extremely unfair on Wests Tigers that they can produce a player, invest 8 years in development, help him over come serious injury, then offer him a deal which is an upgrade on his current deal and STILL lose him to another club. Even worse, Tedesco is just 21 years old and should still improve as a player.
Forget the specifics of Tedesco's contract offer with the Tigers but where is the fairness in this situation for the Tigers? Is it not time to introduce a transfer fee for players 23 or under??? Some will disregard the cry as sour grapes but sour grapes it's not. In the case of Tedesco, he was part of a development outlay of between $600,000 and $1million per season and he was lost to the club at age 21. Wests Tigers receive not a cent in return.
It's a business decision, i get it. But it's an unfair one!
For too long fans of all clubs have been talking about the NRL needing to better protect clubs and their assets. Tedesco did not want to move, he gave the club time after time to find a way to keep him but there was no way the club could compete with the money the Raiders offered. What then is the point of clubs spending such amounts of money on junior development if the NRL is not going to protect them from the clubs who simply buy their juniors??
Canberra do develop their own juniors but ironically saw fit to offer Tedesco a contract that was considerably more than what he was worth, To call this smart by the Raiders would be misinformed. Is it a risk? Perhaps. It could pay off though. Time will tell. This though is irrespective of the fact that it was an unfair position for the Wests Tigers to find themselves in. They should've been better protected. All clubs deserve better protection from the NRL.
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