Joey tees off on ‘clueless’ Tedesco axing calls

However, Johns wasted little time suggesting Tedesco still has a significant role to play for NSW.

“These people coming out and bagging James Tedesco, they’re embarrassing themselves. It just goes to show how little they know about the game,” he told Nine’s NRL Sunday Footy Show.

“He’s the NSW captain, he’s been one of the best players for the last five-six years.

“If you have a look at his stats in that game, I spoke about the stop-start nature of that game, it was very hard to get any flow in the middle of the field.

“For them to come out and bag James Tedesco, it was clueless, it’s absolutely ridiculous, I was laughing about it.

“I just can’t believe people would be putting the heat on our captain, but not only that, the best player we’ve had in five-six years. It’s laughable, absolutely laughable.

“It’s not unfair, I don’t know where it comes from. I absolutely laugh. When I saw it, I was like, ‘How could you even say that?’. He’s one of the best players for the last five-six years, he competed so hard the other night, and for people to come out and bag him, it just goes to show how clueless people are.”

Johns calls came as Blues coach Brad Fittler reiterated his commitment to the under fire fullback.

“I think getting used to the Sydney media is something players need to do, and I think they are getting that way,” he told the Sunday Footy Show.

Fittler said in the aftermath of the shock Game I loss that he had “never considered” axing Tedesco and the skipper was ”not the reason we lost.”

Fitter and Johns’ endorsements were just a few of many.

Roosters boss Nick Politis took aim at NSW fans who want to see Tedesco gone.

“Anyone who thinks dropping Teddy is a good idea has rocks in their head,” the Roosters chairman told The Sydney Morning Herald’s Danny Weidler.

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“He has been an absolute superstar for the Blues and he has dominated. At club level, he has been the best player in the game over a five-year period. You think about what he has done for this club, it’s remarkable. To dump him after one game that was not his very best game and say they should sack him is just stupid.”

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga was also stunned by the criticism levelled at Tedesco from people in NSW, declaring the Blues fullback would still be the first player picked for Australia as well as captain.

Meninga believes Tedesco might have been a victim of a heavy Penrith presence in the backline, which may not have suited the Roosters fullback.

The Kangaroos coach hit out at NSW fans for their lack of loyalty, saying Queensland fans would not do so.

“No way. It’s emotional bullshit,” Meninga told The Sydney Morning Herald. “I actually thought Teddy’s effort levels were fantastic the other night – he tried his heart out.

“Because he got held up over the try line and was outjumped by (Lindsay Collins), some people think all of a sudden he isn’t playing well. It’s ridiculous.

“I know emotion gets involved, and people look for reasons why NSW lost the game. What about Queensland’s defence being exceptional? They didn’t give them too many opportunities.

“If there was a Test this weekend, Teddy would be our captain and fullback.

“There’s been a lot of talk about NSW and the Penrith way of playing,” Meninga added. “Penrith move the ball around really well and move the ball early. The ball moves away from the middle a bit, which takes Teddy out of it a bit and means he goes chasing the ball.

“Teddy always tries to get a feel for the game. He would have felt the energy levels were down in his team and he tried to lift those levels; he’s the captain and takes it upon himself to make a difference.”

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