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The Sydney Roosters' James Tedesco might have been lining up for Canberra in the 2019 NRL grand final had he not backed out of a deal to join the Raiders.

Sydney Roosters superstar James Tedesco admits the contract saga in which he reneged on an agreement to join Canberra was a "shambles" but he refuses to look back on it with regret.

If it weren't for the sliding doors moment five years ago, Tedesco might have been lining up for the Raiders instead of the Roosters in Sunday's NRL grand final.

For a time, Tedesco was public enemy No.1 in the nation's capital after backing out of a deal to join the Raiders.

He was photographed at Canberra airport as he arrived to meet coach Ricky Stuart and, a few days later, the club trumpeted his impending arrival for the 2015 season as a replacement for Brisbane-bound Anthony Milford.

Despite the Raiders offering him $150,000 more per year, he pulled out of the deal to remain at the Tigers after Robbie Farah convinced him to stay.

Asked about the conversation with Stuart in which he informed him of his decision to back out, Tedesco said: "He wasn't happy. And fair enough, I guess."

At the time, the fullback's decision was a sore point for the Raiders after they were also turned down by Josh Mansour.

"I was young and I had a better offer from them and it sounded good at the time," Tedesco said.

"But when I had a good think about it, I didn't want to leave where I was. I was comfortable at the Tigers; I was brought up through that club.

"It was a bit of a shambles the whole thing but it's just my journey."

Under NRL rules then, players were allowed to back out of contracts prior to round 13.

Tedesco said he had no regrets about his decision, saying he was young and it took him time to appreciate what he valued most.

"Everybody thought I signed but I agreed over the phone," Tedesco said.

"I went down Thursday and rang Saturday to say I have a decision. It was a quick-thinking process and I was 21 at the time."

Tedesco eventually left the Tigers for the Roosters at the end of 2017. He stands on the verge of becoming a two-time premiership winner and is a short-priced favourite to be crowned the Dally M winner.

He praised the Raiders' rebuild since he declined their offer and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, the man wearing the Raiders' No.1 jersey which he was meant to occupy.

"He's been a find for them and not many have expected him to go as good as he has," Tedesco said.

"He's similar to Roger (Tuivasa-Sheck) - when he has the ball he's hard to tackle. He's tough to play against."