James Tedesco is one of the most recognisable names in Australian rugby league, but away from the NRL field, he has built a quieter life with his wife, Maria Tedesco.
The Sydney Roosters star married Maria, formerly known as Maria Glinellis, in January 2023 after several years together. Their wedding was an important moment in Tedesco’s personal life and was attended by a number of familiar faces from the rugby league world.
Since then, James and Maria have also started a family, welcoming their first daughter in 2023. While James spends much of his time focused on football, Maria has remained an important part of his life and is often seen supporting him away from the spotlight.
Here is everything to know about James Tedesco’s wife, their relationship, wedding and family life.
Who Is James Tedesco’s Wife?
Maria Tedesco is the wife of James Tedesco, one of the leading fullbacks in Australian rugby league.
Before her marriage to the NRL star, she was known as Maria Glinellis. Following their wedding, she became known publicly as Maria Tedesco.
Maria has generally maintained a more private profile than her husband. James is regularly seen on television and at major sporting events because of his career, while Maria tends to keep much of her personal life away from the intense attention that comes with being married to a professional athlete.
She has nevertheless become a familiar figure among people who follow James and the Sydney Roosters.
Maria also has Greek heritage, and aspects of her background and family life have occasionally received attention. She is known to have an interest in food, cooking and lifestyle, areas that have also become part of the family’s life away from rugby league.
James Tedesco and Maria’s Relationship
James and Maria dated for several years before getting married.
Their relationship developed away from much of the public spotlight, despite James being one of the biggest names in the NRL. The couple eventually became engaged in November 2021, marking another major step in their relationship.
For Tedesco, who had already established himself as a leading rugby league player, the engagement represented an important personal milestone.
The pair did not rush into marriage immediately. Instead, they spent time planning their wedding and enjoying their life together before eventually tying the knot in early 2023.
Their relationship has continued to attract interest because of James’s status as an NRL star, although both have generally avoided making their private life the centre of attention.
When Did James Tedesco and Maria Get Married?
James Tedesco and Maria married on January 7, 2023.
Their wedding took place at Redleaf Wollombi in the NSW Hunter Valley, a location that provided a picturesque setting for the couple’s special day.
The wedding was attended by family, friends and several people connected to the NRL. Given James’s position within Australian rugby league, it was no surprise that a number of fellow players and sporting figures were present.
The occasion marked the beginning of a new chapter for James and Maria after years together.
For fans, the wedding also offered a glimpse into the personal side of a player who is normally associated with rugby league rather than celebrity life.
Maria Tedesco’s Role in James’s Life
Being married to a professional athlete comes with its own challenges. NRL players have demanding training schedules, frequent games, travel and considerable public pressure.
Maria has been an important source of support for James throughout their relationship.
She has been seen supporting him at rugby league events and games, while also sharing moments from their life together. Her presence provides a more personal look at James outside his professional career.
Maria is also understood to have an interest in nutrition and cooking. This has been particularly relevant to James because maintaining fitness and recovery is an important part of being a professional rugby league player.
Tedesco has enjoyed an unusually long and successful career at the highest level, and lifestyle choices can play an important role in maintaining that consistency.
James Tedesco and Maria Welcome Their First Child
Marriage was not the only major milestone for James and Maria in 2023.
The couple welcomed their first daughter later that year, beginning another important chapter in their lives.
Becoming parents changed the family’s routine and gave James another role away from the rugby league field.
For a player who spends so much time travelling, training and competing, family life can provide a valuable balance. James has continued his professional career while also embracing life as a father.
Maria’s role has naturally become even more important as the couple raise their young family.
The couple have generally chosen to keep many details about their daughter private, which is understandable given the amount of attention that comes with James’s career.
Maria’s Family and Cooking Interests
Maria has attracted some attention for her interest in food and cooking.
Her Greek heritage is also an important part of her background, and Greek food and family traditions have featured in public discussions about her lifestyle.
For James, nutrition is naturally important. As an elite rugby league player, he needs to maintain his fitness throughout a long season, and food plays a major part in recovery and preparation.
Maria’s interest in cooking therefore fits naturally into the couple’s home life.
However, her identity is not simply connected to being an NRL player’s wife. She has her own interests and personality, and those aspects of her life have helped her develop a public identity separate from James.
James Tedesco’s Life Away From Rugby League
James Tedesco has spent much of his adult life in professional rugby league.
He rose through the ranks before establishing himself as one of the NRL’s best fullbacks. His speed, attacking ability and consistency have made him a key player for both club and representative football.
Away from the field, however, Tedesco’s priorities have changed over time.
His marriage to Maria and the arrival of their daughter have given him a family life that exists alongside his demanding sporting career.
For many professional athletes, having a stable home environment can be just as important as what happens during a game. James appears to value that balance, with Maria and their daughter forming an important part of his life outside football.
Do James and Maria Tedesco Have Children?
Yes. James and Maria Tedesco have a daughter, whom they welcomed in 2023.
The arrival of their first child came in the same year that they married, making 2023 an especially memorable period for the couple.
Becoming parents has added another dimension to their relationship. James now has to balance the responsibilities of fatherhood with the expectations that come with being one of Australia’s most prominent rugby league players.
Maria has also embraced her role as a mother while continuing to maintain a relatively private public profile.
The couple appear to prefer enjoying their family life without putting every personal moment in the spotlight.
James Tedesco and Maria Tedesco Today
James and Maria Tedesco remain a well-known couple within the NRL community.
While James continues to receive most of the attention because of his performances on the field, Maria remains an important part of his life away from rugby league.
Their relationship has now moved through several major stages, from dating and engagement to marriage and parenthood.
They married after several years together, welcomed their first daughter in 2023 and have continued building their family life while James remains committed to his football career.
Maria’s support has also been a recurring part of James’s journey. Like many partners of professional athletes, she has been there through the demanding schedule, public pressure and highs and lows that come with elite sport.
A Strong Partnership Away From the Spotlight
James Tedesco’s career has made him a household name among rugby league fans, but his relationship with Maria shows another side of his life.
The couple’s story is not based on a whirlwind romance. They dated for years, became engaged in 2021, married in January 2023 and soon welcomed their first child.
That steady progression has helped them build a family while James continues his career at the highest level.
For fans searching for James Tedesco’s wife, Maria Tedesco is the answer. Formerly Maria Glinellis, she married the NRL star at Redleaf Wollombi in the NSW Hunter Valley on January 7, 2023.
Today, James and Maria are not only husband and wife but also parents. Their growing family has become an important part of James’s life away from the rugby league field, giving the NRL star a personal world beyond the bright lights of the game.