Tedesco: The three additions "motivating" hungry Roosters

James Tedesco believes the addition of Michael Cheika to the Sydney Roosters’ coaching staff will be “motivational” in their quest for another NRL premiership.

Cheika has officially joined the Roosters’ coaching line-up this season as a coaching specialist and forwards coach, having previously coached the Australian and Argentinian national rugby sides and the Lebanon rugby league side.

The Roosters’ have constructed arguably the NRL’s strongest roster, featuring 15 players who have played at an international or State of Origin level.

Despite Daly Cherry-Evans and Reece Robson both joining the Roosters this season, the addition of Cheika could be the most shrewd signing of them all as the Roosters hunt for their first premiership since 2019.

Speaking to SEN 1170 Breakfast, Tedesco outlined Cheika’s specific role with the squad, and how his influence could inspire the Roosters to NRL glory.

“He's running the defensive part (with) the middles, and the attack and defence (in the forwards),” Tedesco explained.

“He's obviously had a lot of experience internationally coaching rugby and different teams but I think his involvement will definitely be motivational.

“The way he talks to us definitely gets the forwards revved up and ready to go.

“I think he's still been learning the ins and outs of the details of rugby league but I think his motivation and his intensity and how he speaks to us, especially in the tackling and the wrestling, that's been a real highlight.

“That’s going to show its teeth soon really, I think.”

Cheika will be working with the likes of Naufahu Whyte, Angus Crichton, Lindsay Collins, Connor Watson and more, however, the other crucial addition to the Roosters’ pack is hooker Reece Robson.

Robson comes from the Cowboys as the New South Wales hooker, and along with new half Daly Cherry-Evans, will bring a stronger leaders’ perspective to the Roosters’ young players, elevating the ability of their squad.

With Robson and Cherry-Evans joining Tedesco and halfback Sam Walker in the spine, the Roosters’ now boast a spine featuring three Origin representatives and 854 games of experience.

The addition of such elite talent means the 2025 Dally M medalist is set to rely on them to steer the side around, even if it may take a few rounds to perfect.

“They're going to be unreal,” Tedesco said.

“I think the big thing for me that's added a lot of value is just their leadership.

“Obviously, Cherry’s (Cherry-Evans) been a captain and leader for a long time now… and then Reece (Robson) at nine, touching the ball every tackle, he's got to be in control of that… (their) clear communication (and) leadership's been a real highlight and a benefit for me, just leaning on those guys whenever I need to.

“We had a lot of young guys play some footy last year and develop their games, but having two leaders and great players come into those key positions has been really awesome for us.

“(The combinations are) definitely something we have to keep working on and keep trying to get a feel for.

“The main thing for us has been defensively and those little key areas in transition.

“I think the attack will continue to take time… but there's two key guys there who are instinctive footy players and want to get their hands on the ball, and I'm the same as well.

“I guess it's a feeling out period for us of working on our combinations and our connection.

“But the thing with having Reece there is he picks the right option a lot of the time, which is great to have.

“He doesn't overplay his hand, he gets the ball out fast. His pass is one of the best passes I've seen.

“I'm excited for having those guys in key positions and playing our footy.”