Roosters secure their captain and modern great
The Sydney Roosters have moved to lock down one of the greatest players in club history, announcing that champion fullback James Tedesco has re-signed until the end of the 2027 NRL season.
The 32-year-old, a former NSW Blues and Australian Kangaroos captain, has been a cornerstone of the Roosters’ success since arriving from the Wests Tigers in 2018. Since then, he has produced one of the most consistently elite stretches of form the NRL has seen from a fullback.
Tedesco has scored 99 tries in 186 games for the Roosters, adding to the 90 appearances he made for the Wests Tigers earlier in his career. With his first try of the 2026 season, he will surpass a major milestone — 150 career NRL tries — placing him in rare company among the game’s greatest finishers.
Across his time in Bondi, Tedesco has become the face of the club’s professionalism and intensity, helping deliver premierships, dominating Origin arenas, and setting standards for younger players coming through the Roosters system.
As the Roosters continue building their next premiership roster, retaining Tedesco’s experience, leadership, and playmaking presence at the back was a top priority. His re-signing ensures stability in the No.1 jersey for at least another two seasons while the club continues to transition its next generation of stars.
Tedesco remains one of the game’s elite ball-runners, support players, and defensive organisers — and his longevity at fullback continues to astonish even seasoned NRL observers.
