Trent Robinson has never been a coach who wastes words. Measured, precise, and notoriously difficult to rattle, the Roosters’ long-serving head coach has sat through hundreds of press conferences over more than a decade at Allianz Stadium and rarely let his composure slip.
On Wednesday afternoon, it slipped.
In a post-training media session that was supposed to be a routine preview of the Roosters’ upcoming Anzac Day clash with St George Illawarra, Robinson instead delivered one of the most forceful and personal defences of a player in his coaching tenure — turning a quiet briefing room into something far more charged as he pushed back hard against the mounting criticism directed at captain James Tedesco.
“I’ll be honest with you,” Robinson said, leaning forward in his chair. “I’ve sat back and let a lot of things go over the years. But this has gone too far. What’s being said about James Tedesco right now is not fair, it’s not accurate, and frankly, it’s not good enough.”
The Criticism
Tedesco, 33, has found himself at the centre of an increasingly pointed public debate about whether the Roosters’ fullback — widely regarded as one of the greatest to play the position — is beginning to show his age.
The concerns have been building quietly since the back end of the 2025 season, when Tedesco, hampered by a calf complaint, produced a handful of uncharacteristically quiet performances. They resurfaced early in 2026 after a below-par showing in Round 3 against the Raiders, during which Tedesco was beaten on the outside twice and finished with just 87 run metres — well below his season average.
Several media commentators, including a number of high-profile former players, have in recent weeks questioned whether Tedesco should be retained in the NSW Blues squad for the upcoming State of Origin series, with one suggesting the Roosters captain was “running on reputation” rather than current form.
It was those remarks, sources close to Robinson confirmed, that finally prompted the coach to address the issue head-on.
Robinson’s Defence
“Let me tell you what James Tedesco did in Round 7,” Robinson said, his voice steady but intense. “He ran for 270 metres. He made three line breaks. He set up three tries and scored one himself. He did that after we were 12 points down at half-time — for the third week in a row. And we’re still having this conversation about whether he’s good enough?”
Robinson paused, allowing the statistic to land before continuing.
“People want to talk about one average game in Round 3. Fine. But let’s talk about the full picture. Let’s talk about what this man does week in, week out, for this football club. He is our captain. He is one of the best players in the competition. And the scrutiny he is being put under right now — I don’t think it would be happening to anyone else.”
When pressed on whether the criticism had affected Tedesco personally, Robinson chose his words carefully.
“James is one of the most resilient people I’ve ever coached. He doesn’t need me to fight his battles. But I’m his coach, and I know what I see every single day at training. I know what he puts in. And when I think something is unfair, I’m going to say so.”
Tedesco Responds
Tedesco, present at the session alongside Robinson, was characteristically understated in his own response to the furore.
“Look, I appreciate Trent having my back,” he said. “But I don’t spend a lot of energy on the outside noise. I know where my game is at. The coaches know. My teammates know. That’s what counts.”
The 33-year-old, who won the Dally M Player of the Year award in 2025 in what many described as a career-resurgent season, acknowledged that form fluctuations were a natural part of a long career — but rejected any suggestion that he was in decline.
“I’ve had one off game in seven rounds. I’ll have more before the season is done. Every player does. What matters is how you respond, and I feel like I’ve responded pretty well.”
It was a pointed reference to his Round 7 masterclass against the Knights — a performance that, ironically, came just days after the most intense wave of criticism he had faced in years.
The Bigger Picture
Robinson’s outburst, while unusually public, is consistent with a broader pattern at the Roosters. The club has long prided itself on a culture of loyalty and internal accountability — where players are both held to high standards and fiercely protected from external pressure when Robinson deems that pressure unwarranted.
He did the same for Sam Walker during the halfback’s injury-interrupted 2025 campaign. He did it for Boyd Cordner in the twilight of his career. And now, with Tedesco entering the final chapter of what has been one of the great NRL careers, he is doing it again.
“There will come a time when James Tedesco isn’t playing for this club,” Robinson said, in his closing remarks. “I don’t know when that is, and neither does anyone else in this room. But until that day comes, he is our captain and he has my full support. I’d ask that people remember that before they write their next column.”
What’s Next
The Roosters face the Dragons in Tuesday’s Anzac Day match at Allianz Stadium — a fixture that has historically brought out some of Tedesco’s finest individual performances. With Robinson’s words still ringing across the competition, and a sold-out crowd expected at the new stadium, few would be surprised if the fullback chose the occasion to make his own statement.
He has, after all, done it before.
