James Tedesco solves the NRL’s biggest mystery: Why he keeps flashing his backside at fans despite taking drastic steps to keep his bum under wraps
- Blues skipper James Tedesco says his shorts are the main target for tacklers
- The 29-year-old’s backside has flashed NRL fans more than six times this year
- The Roosters star wears two layers of compact compression beneath his shorts
Blues fullback James Tedesco has insisted the recurring shorts malfunction that has made him the NRL’s biggest flasher is purely coincidental and not even three layers of protection are enough to keep his backside off television.
Tedesco’s cheeks were last seen featuring prominently in game one of State of Origin when a Cameron Munster tackle clawed the the NSW skipper’s pants off.
Blues fullback James Tedesco had his shorts pulled down his backside after a Cameron Munster tackle in game one of the state of origin
On more than six occasions this season, the Roosters captain has unintentionally put his buttocks on centre stage, including during the Anzac Day clash against St George and twice in the following round against the Bulldogs.
The 29-year-old says his shorts are the prime target for opposition tacklers because his jersey is too tight for them to grab.
‘I wear shorts, plus my BSc Skins [compression shorts], plus budgie smugglers,’ Tedesco told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘I don’t really tie up the shorts because everything beneath keeps things tight.
‘Sometimes I feel like I bounce off tackles and people grab whatever they can grab on to. It’s not like I’m going out there with undies and loose shorts – it’s all kept pretty compact down there.’
Tedesco has unintentionally flaunted his cheeks on more then six occasions this season. H reckons tacklers go for his shorts because his jersey is too hard to grab
Tedesco’s recent form has been outstanding, running for 266 metres and making eight tackle busts in a losing Blues side during Origin one.
After a training session in preparation for game two in Perth on Sunday, Tedesco signed a jersey for a fan before a father piped up from the fence and said, ‘Make sure your shorts stay up.’
Tedesco in action for the blues at training camp for game two in Perth this Sunday, where he has been under the high ball from the boots of Burton and Cleary
The dual-premiership winning back has had plenty to take his mind off suffering another wardrobe malfunction, as he has been given the task of catching bombs from the boots of Matt Burton and Nathan Cleary during the NSW camp.
The 22-year-old Bulldog has staked a claim as leader of the NRL’s bomb squad and was seen launching a 60-metre effort off earlier this year against the Panthers.
‘Burto definitely has the bigger boot, but Nath is more precise, and his kicks move around a bit more. Burton put some up at training [on Wednesday] for us before. It was great practice,’ Tedesco said.
Burton’s kicking will aid help five-eighth Jarome Luai, who struggled to fire in the loss to Queensland.