James Tedesco set to replace Billy Slater as NRL top number one
Related Story: Slater hit with shoulder charge by NRL judiciary
Before Billy Slater hands the baton to James Tedesco as the game's premier full-back, the Sydney Roosters' star number one hopes they can meet one final time.
Slater's illustrious NRL career may already be over, with him due to face the judiciary on Tuesday night to fight a shoulder charge citation.
The Storm will argue his try-saving effort on Sosaia Feki could not be avoided and it wasn't a traditional shoulder charge, as Slater attempts to be cleared to play in Sunday's grand final against the Roosters.
Tedesco was hesitant to wade into the debate about the legality of Slater's tackle but said he would relish the opportunity to come up against the retiring great one last time.
"It's hard to comment. In that situation sometimes all you can do is put your body in front," Tedesco said.
"But whether it's legal or not, the judiciary will judge on that.
"He's been a champion full-back for many years, and to come up against him in a grand final would be pretty special."
For many full-backs of Tedesco's generation, Slater has set the gold standard for number ones.
Since breaking into the Australian side in 2008, he has owned the Kangaroos full-back jumper before retiring from representative football after this year's State of Origin series.
Tedesco is expected to take over the Australian full-back job, starting with the end-of-year Tests against New Zealand and Tonga.
He has come up against Slater on seven occasions during his career but only come out on top in two — including this year's Origin game two in which Tedesco was instrumental.
"As an opponent you know he's always going to be dangerous, you know what he's going to deliver game after game," Tedesco said.
"But I don't make it a personal battle, if I do that I'm not thinking about my own game if I'm worrying about what Slater is going to do.
"My main focus is on myself. If I'm organising our 'D' line I know he'll be their main attacking weapon.
"It's more stuff like that, it's not really coming up against him one-on-one."
AAP
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ABC .net
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