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Reasons behind Teddy’s shock Kangaroos call

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Reasons behind Teddy’s shock Kangaroos call

The Roosters fullback lost his spot in the national side last year but was tipped to earn a recall under new coach Kevin Walters on the back of his stunning 2025 campaign that has him the raging favourite to claim the Dally M Medal.

The former Kangaroos captain informed Peter V’landys that he wouldn’t be able to travel to the UK given he will be best man at his brother’s wedding after his brother was best man at his wedding.

“I rang Peter. I wasn’t sure if I was going to get picked but he said I was going to get picked and for me to sleep on it and think about it,” Tedesco told the NewsWire.

“I’ve been thinking about it the past couple of weeks not knowing what was going to happen, but the thought of missing (the wedding) would’ve weighed on me a lot more than missing a couple of games for Australia.

“It hasn’t been easy. Once he said I was going to get picked, it was pretty hard to say no to.

“But I’ve got my brother’s wedding and I’ve also got to get stem cells in my knee, which is a 6-8 week recovery process, and I want to get that done to be ready for January.

“It’s a better decision and I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulder that I don’t go.”

It’s a setback for the Kangaroos who have already lost Payne Haas to Samoa, while Tom Trbojevic has also made himself unavailable.

Tedesco is set to claim his second Dally M on Wednesday night and was expected to win back his Kangaroos jersey that he lost to Dylan Edwards.

But Tuesday’s announcement means Edwards and Broncos superstar Reece Walsh are in the box seat to be on the plane for the three-Test series that kicks off on October 26 at Wembley Stadium.

The Kangaroos squad will be named on Monday.

“I’m proud that I’ve worked my way back into the frame after a good year and I was recognised to get picked,” he said after playing a starring role for the Roosters.

“But it’s more the situation and what’s on at the end of the year, so it wouldn’t have worked.

“I’m really content with that.”