The one commodity you can’t substitute in rugby league, speed, has made James Tedesco the hottest property on the open market.

But eight months ago the Wests Tigers fullback feared he’d lost his trademark pace.

On a July Friday night at Leichhardt Oval last season, Tedesco’s legs were pumping but his heart was sinking.

Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson had scooped up a Tigers kick on his own line and set off down the field like a shot out of a gun.

Tedesco, only two strides behind him over the first 10 metres, liked his chances of reining his man in.

The Tigers flyer had been back from his 2012 knee reconstruction for more than 15 weeks and felt comfortable to step on the gas.

But as he crossed the 40m line, then the halfway, with Johnson still a good two paces in front of him, it dawned on Tedesco that it was a one horse race.

It was a crushing realisation and as Johnson touched down for a try that would clinch the game for the Warriors, Tedesco questioned whether he’d ever regain his speed.

“He picked up the ball from his in-goal when I was chasing and I wasn’t getting close to him,” Tedesco recalls.

“I felt I wasn’t going at top speed. I felt like I couldn’t get there.

“And that’s not a feeling I was used to.”

Thankfully for Tigers fans and Tedesco, that feeling has gone, and the try-scoring sensation has returned.

Some extra matches for Italy at the rugby league World Cup and a full pre-season has ensured the Tedesco trademark is back in force.

If Johnson gets into the clear for the Warriors on Saturday in Wellington, expect the Tigers No.1 to be in hot pursuit.

Tedesco, who has a football field at his parents’ Menangle property for extra training, has worked hard to get back to being the NRL’s most in-form attacking weapon.

“After my knee injury I did feel like I lost a bit of speed there,” he said.

“Last year I was a bit down on confidence.

“But coming off the World Cup and after the Nines as well … I was playing with more confidence.

“I do a bit of stuff at home in the backyard, but Hayden Knowles is our sprint coach, so I’ve just been working on off-the-mark speed which was my main trademark when I was younger.

“I don’t know if it’s the quickest I’ve been. But I’m feeling quick.”