‘It was a tough night for me’: James Tedesco has full belief in Sandon Smith as young half vows to take lessons out of Panthers loss

Roosters skipper James Tedesco says he’s got “all the confidence and belief” in Sandon Smith after he had a tough night against Penrith in last week’s qualifying final that has led to more calls for Joseph Manu to move into the halves.

That seems unlikely given coach Trent Robinson said before the Panthers game that it wasn’t even a debate as to who would play in the halves that game and that he was always going to pick Smith given he’ll be starting for the Roosters in 2025.

Smith has big boots to fill with attacking maestro Sam Walker out for at least the next nine months with a knee injury, and he’ll be looking to bounce back against Manly after he missed 11 tackles in the loss to the premiers.

The 21-year-old was beaten by Jarome Luai and Luke Garner for tries and also conceded a seven-tackle set with a poor kick, but he did play a part in two second-half tries as his side wrestled back momentum.

“We’ve got all the confidence and belief in ‘Sando’,” Tedesco said.

“Sometimes things don’t go your way, but it doesn’t define you as a player or as a person.

“It (the loss) wasn’t on Sando. A couple of things didn’t go his way, but a couple of things didn’t go a couple of our boys’ way, so that’s just the game sometimes in finals footy, especially when the opposition is playing some pretty good footy.

“He’s a confident kid and I know we’ll get the best out of him. He just has to play his role because I love playing with him. He’s a really good kid and I know he’s going to keep getting better and better.”

That support could be the boost Smith needs as he looks to return to the form that produced three try assists against Souths when he started at five-eighth back in round 3.

“Teddy and Robbo and everyone around me have been awesome from the start. After the game I still felt that full belief from them, and that helps a lot going forward,” Smith said.

“It was a tough night for me. It wasn’t one of my best (performances) and I definitely would’ve wanted it to look a bit different.

“But that’s all right. I spoke to Robbo and I’ll take some lessons from that and move on to the next game.

“I have to go after the game early and get my kicking, running and defence right.

“That’ll allow me to get into the game and then I know my attack will come off the back of that.”

Smith had to take on Nathan Cleary last week and now goes head-to-head with legendary Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, with the winner to face Melbourne’s Jahrome Hughes in the preliminary final.

He was bullied against Penrith a few days ago, but the return of enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will hopefully help him have a bit more time to make decisions after their forwards were outplayed on Friday night.

“Their line speed is relentless. They do it for 80 minutes and that’s why they are the best,” the halfback said.

“I don’t know how, but they can do it for 30 games in a row for 80 minutes, and that’s why they’re the best at the moment. Credit to them.

“Jared is a warrior and a massive leader. We look up to him and he has that aura and vibe coming into the team.”