After years on the NRL field, James Tedesco has gone ‘soft’ - but only for his little girls

Exclusive: After three years of juggling fatherhood with an NRL career, Roosters superstar James Tedesco reckons he’s worked out a pretty good balance – at least until he has another kid.

He spent Saturday morning hosting a combined birthday party for daughters Rosie Mae, who is almost three, and Marlie Grace, one, then had his teammates over for a barbecue that same afternoon.

It’s a perfect example of how Tedesco, 33, juggles his roles a father and Roosters captain. But just as they did on Saturday, his girls always come first.

“They definitely softened me up. Any time off I get, I’m always looking forward to doing something with the kids,” Tedesco told nine.com.au.

“I take Rosie to swimming lessons and dance lessons, I’m trying to get her into sport. She’s not really into that much as yet, but I’m happy with whatever she wants to do.”

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He hasn’t figured out how to French braid yet, but his daughters don’t mind.

“I’m terrible at hair or dressing them, I just chuck on whatever I find it if I’m getting them dressed,” Tedesco laughed.

These days his world revolves around bathtimes, reading his kids books before bed, and play-dates at the park between training and NRL matches.

It’s very different to the life he led before wife Maria and the girls came along, but Tedesco wouldn’t give it up for the world.

“Before I had kids or a family, I was very... not selfish, but I’d do whatever I wanted to do. Sometimes I’d struggle switching off from footy,” he said.

“Going home to my kids now, I’m really focused on being as present as possible.”

Those two words – “being present” – come up constantly when he talks about fatherhood.

It’s his north star as a dad, and a value he inherited from his own parents, John and Rosemary.

They worked tirelessly to make sure Tedesco knew he had their unconditional support growing up, and he has repeatedly credited them for his success as an NRL player.

Now their influence has become pivotal to his success as a father.

They’re why the athlete is so insistent on being present for his girls, even when the demands of his career separate them physically.

“I try to FaceTime and call as much as possible, but it does get hard when you’re away for more than a day or two,” he said.

“They start to miss you, and you miss them, but it’s just the reality of our job and what we have to sacrifice. And it’s not going to be forever.”

Tedesco is nearing the end of a stellar career, and while he’s certain he’ll still be very involved with footy when he eventually retires, the idea of having more spare time to spend with his kids as they grow up makes him giddy.

Especially if his little family of four grows again.

“We might have one more kid as well. We’ll see if it’s a boy or not, but I’m expecting three girls,” he revealed.

For now, his kids accept Dad has to go away sometimes and Maria holds down the fort while he’s gone.

Seeing her take to motherhood so naturally, even when she has to manage alone, has Tedesco falling more in love with her every day.

The family they’ve built together is his sanctuary, and whenever he returns home from training or a game, he leaves footy at the door.

“Our girls don’t know if I played a good game or bad game, if we won or lost. They’re just happy to see Dad,” he said.

It’s obvious Rosie and Marlie have Tedesco wrapped around their little fingers.

He radiates joy and pride just talking about his girls, and whenever they’re on the sidelines at a game he can’t help but scan the crowd for their faces between sets.

The second the final whistle blows, there’s only one thing on his mind.

“What I look forward to after the game is just trying to find where my wife and kids are, and trying to bring them on the field,” he said.

“I’m coming towards the end of my career, and I don’t know how many years I have left, but I want to cherish those moments as much as possible.

“Whether you win or lose, just seeing my girls and being out on the field is a real special moment.”

Rosie and Marlie are still too young to fully understand he’s famous, and most dads aren’t cheered on by thousands of screaming fans at work every weekend.

For now, Tedesco’s happy to keep it that way.

After years in the spotlight and spending every waking hour focused on the game, he’s enamoured with the quieter, softer, more ordinary life he now gets to live at home with Maria and their daughters.

Father’s Day today will be spent relaxing at home with them, watching them play and feeling them learn and grow in real time right before his eyes.

Tedesco doesn’t claim to be a perfect father, and doesn’t always know what he’s doing, but he’s loving the process of finding out.

And when he needs a guiding hand, he knows where to turn to.

“Dad always goes, ‘I didn’t know what I was doing, but you just learn along the way,’” Tedesco said.

“I’m just trying to be the best example I can be as a person, as a dad, and give them the best possible opportunities in life.”