James Tedesco pulled off not one, but two incredible pieces of defence against the Parramatta Eels in the annual Easter Monday blockbuster at ANZ Stadium.
It wasn't enough to get his team over the line, as the Eels emerged with an 8-0 victory, but the defensive masterclass was further proof just why the Wests Tigers No. 1 is one of the star players in the game at the moment and right in the race for representative honours.
Tedesco was right in the action after just four minutes, pulling off a brilliant one-on-one legs tackle on Semi Radradra to cut the Fijian winger down just inches from the line.
And if one wasn't enough, the City Origin representative again showed his defensive class with a superb ball-and-all tackle on a flying Michael Jennings just after half-time — both tackles coming at crucial times in the match with neither team yet to score a try.
Wests Tigers Coach Jason Taylor was full of praise for the fullback's defensive exploits, as well as his team's overall performance defensively against a strong Eels outfit.
"The way we defended was a real positive for us tonight," Taylor said after the match.
"[He] was superb. We talked about it as a group how key that was for us.
"We need to improve our attack and disappointed in the result but, at this point in the season, to defend like that is something that as coaches we're really pleased with."
Don't miss Saturday afternoon footy in Campbelltown as we take on the Sharks!
We agree. #NRLTigersEels pic.twitter.com/CrnP1f3JQJ
— Wests Tigers (@WestsTigers) March 28, 2016
TEDESCO... thou art brilliant #wow #nrltigerseels @NRLFootyShow
— Erin Molan (@Erin_Molan) March 28, 2016
"9 times out of 10 Semi scores the try from that distance. James Tedesco, what a tackle" - Sterlo #TripleMNRL #NRLWSTPAR
— Triple M NRL (@TripleM_NRL) March 28, 2016
That @WestsTigers Tedesco tackle had @NSWRL Origin written all over it v @TheParraEels
— Chris Warren (@ChrisWarreNRL) March 28, 2016
