Why James Tedesco doesnтАЩt want the Sydney Roosters to play with emotion against South Sydney
The Sydney Roosters have vowed not to focus on Souths forward Jai Arrow when they take on the Rabbitohs on Friday.
Emotions got the better of the Sydney Roosters the last time they played arch rival South Sydney, but captain James Tedesco insists the Tricolours wonтАЩt fall into the same trap on Friday night.
Flash back to round 3 and the Roosters let frustration towards Rabbitohs back-rower Jai Arrow get the better of them, resulting in a 26-16 loss.
Trent RobinsonтАЩs men were desperate to get revenge on Arrow for his ugly late hit on Tedesco during the 2020 Origin decider in Brisbane.
Only problem was, the Roosters uncharacteristically went too far, paving the way for prop Daniel Suluka-Fifita to spend time in the sin bin.
Suluka-Fifita was charged by the NRL judiciary after throwing a punch at the back of ArrowтАЩs head.
The incident personified the RoostersтАЩ struggles on a forgettable night.
On Friday night the Tricolours get another shot at the Rabbitohs but Tedesco doesnтАЩt want a repeat in the emotion stakes when it comes to taking on Arrow and a strong Souths forward pack.
тАЬThere will definitely be no vocal point about him (Arrow) this time,тАЭ Tedesco said.
тАЬThere was a bit from what happened at the back end of last year and the boys took it a bit personally.
тАЬBut it bit us in the backside when we had someone sin-binned.
тАЬIt has been a big focus for us not to play with emotion. I think it has got the best of us sometimes and it showed earlier in the year.
тАЬFor us, it is all about getting the job done and no emotion attached.тАЭ
Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves also physically went after Arrow during the round 3 clash against Souths.
Tedesco expects Waerea-Hargreaves to control his aggression against the Rabbitohs on Friday as the Tricolours look to secure a top-four position.
тАЬJared fires up quite a bit, so it isnтАЩt really abnormal for him to get angry or aggressive,тАЭ he said.
тАЬThat is just his nature on the field, but I donтАЩt think youтАЩll see anything like that.
тАЬIt will just be the natural competition between us and Souths.тАЭ
Tedesco believes the Roosters are ready to prove their premiership credentials against the third-placed Rabbitohs.
тАЬIt is a big test for us,тАЭ he said.
тАЬSouths are playing some really good footy at the moment and it is a good test for us to come up against a top side.
тАЬIt is a good chance to redeem ourselves, and still fight for that top-four spot.тАЭ
Originally published as Why James Tedesco doesnтАЩt want the Sydney Roosters to play with emotion against South Sydney
