It was the celebration that quickly turned to pain - and a few nervous laughs for NSW VB Blues fullback James Tedesco.
Upon sending halfback Mitchell Pearce over for the side’s third and final try in Origin II, Tedesco took to the air to celebrate - and game down hard on his ankle. While he finished the game for the VB Blues, the injury would see Tedesco sidelined for the two NRL games since - but the Wests Tigers custodian was able to see the lighter side.
"I was saying to 'Woodsy,' it's harder than it looks celebrating a try," Tedesco jokes. "I was obviously excited; I just came up with 'Pearcey' I just rolled over on it and I knew straight away it didn't feel good.
"It's coming along pretty well, obviously I've been looking after it the last week or so. I'm pretty confident it will be sweet."
When Tedesco lines up for the Origin decider next week, he will do so against opposite number Billy Slater - a man he believes was among the Maroons' most dangerous in Game Two.
"It was a pretty good challenge; I think he was pretty dangerous every time he touched the ball," Tedesco says. "You've got to be on your toes every time he's around the ruck or out the back.
"I don't think we came together at all, but it was a good challenge for us as a team to come up against him."
The 24-year-old also spoke about the fitness of teammates Tyson Frizell and Boyd Cordner, as well as the opportunity to assert himself as the world’s best fullback. Watch the full interview in the video above.
