LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
James Tedesco has achieved the status of a four-time winner of the players' champion award, joining Johnathan Thurston as the only player to do so. He was recognized as the NRL's best player of 2025 by his fellow players.
At 32 years old, Tedesco received this significant accolade on Monday, marking his first major honor of the season. The Sydney Roosters fullback is also a leading contender for the Dally M Medal, which will be presented on Wednesday night.
Having previously won the players' champion award in 2017, 2019, and 2022, Tedesco succeeded in overcoming notable players like Harry Grant, Payne Haas, Isaiya Katoa, and Ethan Strange to claim the title again.
With this latest win, he joins Thurston, as the Rugby League Players' Association (RLPA) has been awarding this top honor since 2004.
"For James to be on a par with Johnathan Thurston on four Players' Champion awards is an extraordinary achievement," stated RLPA chief Clint Newton. He characterized Thurston as one of the greatest players in the sport's history, asserting that Tedesco deserves to be mentioned alongside him.
Newton remarked, "While JT played a different position, they share the same fearlessness in contact, running at defensive lines, and an unwavering 80-minute mentality." He concluded that these attributes are respected by fellow players, which explains why both athletes have received this honor on four separate occasions.