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James Tedesco praised after 'immense' NRL finals moment against Sharks

The Roosters captain was immense in the final moments of the club's epic win.

James Tedesco hugs his players and Tedesco charges down Nicho Hynes.
James Tedesco (pictured) received plaudits from the NRL world after his remarkable redemption act in the Roosters win over the Sharks. (Images: Getty Images/Fox Sports)

NRL fans have been left watching on in amazement as James Tedesco redeemed himself from a rollercoaster game in a moment of brilliance in the dying seconds. Tedesco may have excused himself for thinking he cost the Roosters their spot in the NRL finals after finding himself in the sin-bin in the second-half.

A fatigued Tedesco charged back after Braydon Trindall intercepted the ball and ran 60 metres down towards the try line. After Trindall was tackled, the Roosters captain wasn't square at marker when he jumped on Hynes at dummy-half to stifle the attack.

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This cost the Roosters fullback 10 minutes in the bin, which saw the Sharks extend their lead with a penalty goal, which was a controversial decision, in the time he was off the field. Tedesco wasn't having his best night with the drama described as 'awful'.

But the Roosters hit back with a try and with six minutes to go Sam Walker hit a drop-goal to put them 13-12 in front. Although the Sharks weren't done. Having charged up the field in the 77th minutes, Hynes received the ball 25 metres out on the fourth tackle.

And in an astonishing moment, Tedesco charged out of the line to smother the drop-goal in a moment that saved the Roosters' season.

James Tedesco embraces his teammates.
James Tedesco's (pictured) charge down helped the Roosters advance past the Sharks in the NRL finals (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

The Sharks regathered the ball and had another five tackles. Hynes went for another attempt in a similar position on the fourth again, but was this time charged down by Luke Keary.

The Roosters duo proved huge in the big moment to squash Hynes' field goal attempts. Tedesco had a rollercoaster NRL finals game against the Sharks, which has echoed his turbulent season, but his moment of dedication for the team won his resounding plaudits from the NRL world.

Trent Robinson praises 'gutsy' Roosters outfit

Roosters coach Trent Robinson couldn't believe how his outfit battled it out to emerge victorious in a game that was in the balance right until the final whistle. "Gutsiest, yeah. There were many ways to lose that game, and they found a way to win," Robinson said.

"Prettiest? I'd like to play better footy, and we will play better footy next week. The purist in how you want to play footy, you can pick that apart as much as you like. But the spirit a team plays with, that is of the highest order."

Making Walker's winning field goal even more significant is the fact he did it after rolling his ankle, leaving fifth-string kicker Billy Smith to at one stage take a conversion.

Reads 'NRL Finals 2023' with the cut out images of three players throwing a football - Cameron Munster, Nathan Cleary and Reece Walsh, with a backdrop of a football stadium.
Discover more of our NRL Finals coverage.

"He is cold-blooded in those moments, and he's shown that over time," Robinson said of Walker after the match.

A fatigued and battle-hardened Roosters will now take on a depleted Melbourne outfit next week at AAMI Park.

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