“My Most Notable Victory”: James Tedesco Hails Roosters’ Faith in a Historic Upset

In a moment that will go down in history, Roosters captain James Tedesco has hailed his team’s remarkable 38-32 triumph over the reigning champions, the Panthers, as the proudest victory of his NRL journey.

Few anticipated that the Roosters would challenge the Panthers at Western Sydney Stadium on Friday night, especially following their humiliating defeat to the Broncos in round one.

However, what transpired over the course of the match could very well be the season’s biggest upset, marking the first time in six years that the Tri-colours have managed to best the Panthers.

In the post-match interview, Tedesco expressed his pride in how his undermanned squad managed to unite and overcome a fully-staffed Panthers side.

“I’ve never been prouder of a victory,” he stated. “Especially after last week, considering the experienced players we were missing and the young ones who had to step up against a team that’s been dominant for the past four years.”

“We executed our game plan effectively, with all 17 of us performing our roles, working for one another, and just enjoying our footy.”

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“It was pure joy at the final whistle, celebrating the win with the boys,” he added, reiterating his pride in captaining such a resilient team.

Coach Trent Robinson was equally thrilled to see his squad bounce back from the previous week’s tough loss, where they were overwhelmed by the Broncos.

“Given the circumstances since our last game, including player rotations and the number of lads with fewer than five games’ experience, it’s a special moment,” he remarked.

“It’s uplifting when 17 players fully believe in the jersey and the game plan, and you can actually see them executing it — a pleasure to witness.”

With multiple young forwards called up for this match, Robinson acknowledged the contribution of seasoned players in nurturing confidence in the less experienced members.

“It doesn’t happen overnight,” he commented. “These boys have trained hard all pre-season, and I must give credit to our leaders like Teddy [Tedesco], [Angus] Crichton, Connor [Watson], and Chad [Townsend].”

“They set the standard, brought the younger players along, and instilled confidence without limitation on their capabilities. Their leadership on the field has been commendable.”

With speculation rife about a challenging campaign ahead for the Roosters, Tedesco had a clear message for those doubting their potential following just one week of play.

“People in the media can be quick to judge, so it’s vital for us as leaders to instill confidence in our younger boys. We demonstrated that belief in our performance,” he asserted. “We have positioned ourselves to build on this success and continue improving for more victories like this.”

Addressing the media after the match, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary conceded that his team was unable to find their rhythm.

“We lost that game before we even stepped onto the field for various reasons… we didn’t perform anywhere close to our standards,” he stated. “I suppose this is why we cherish sports so much — it’s the quintessential upset.”