Representative honours await James Roberts
DAN KOCH THE AUSTRALIAN APRIL 12, 2015 6:21PM
Twelve months after his NRL career appeared all but over, exciting Titans centre James Roberts is on the verge of representative honours, with NSW City coach Brad Fittler revealing the former bad boy likely to be part of his squad for the annual Origin trial.
While the value of the contest has been widely questioned in recent season, the 2015 City-Country fixture looms as being potentially vital come selection time for Origin I, with a host of Blues backline talent currently under injury clouds.
On top of losing star fullback Jarryd Hayne, NSW coach Laurie Daley has seen Dylan Walker (thumb) and Brett Morris (hamstring) fall to significant injuries — with the issues around the make-up of his backline compounding the issues surrounding the make-up of the Blues halves.
Since helping the Blues to their drought-breaking series win last year, five-eighth Josh Reynolds has battled through a horror period marred by serious form and injury issues, so much so that his position at the Bulldogs is under serious threat from boom Queensland youngster Moses Mbye.
Having seen the carnage caused by the full strength Maroons backline in game III of last year’s series, Daley has openly admitted he will look to add greater offensive potency to his outfit for the 2015 season. And as he proved with his blistering demolition of the Eels on Saturday, Roberts provides that in abundance.
Generally acknowledged to be the fastest player in the game, Roberts has reinvented himself since moving to the Titans midway through last season, having been thrown a lifeline after he was sacked by Souths and Penrith for repeated code of conduct breaches.
Speaking after crossing for three tries in the Titans comfortable win over Parramatta at Pirtek Stadium on Saturday, the 22-year-old said a smoother life off-field was now paying dividends.
“I'm loving it, I look forward to staying there as well,” Roberts said of his time on the Gold Coast.
“I'm loving the off-field lifestyle and I've got a missus now. I'm very settled. It's made a big impact on my life.”
And the lifestyle changes are set to see him further rewarded when Fittler unveils his team for the clash at McDonald’s Park in Wagga Wagga on May 3. While declaring there was still plenty of competition for place in his side, Fittler said Roberts’ blend of speed and power coupled with his natural instincts for the game would make him a handful at any level.
“There's some really good young centres around at the moment. You look at Dylan Walker, James Roberts and Tim Simona,” Fittler said. “This is what we have been looking for a long time, good competition. He (Roberts) certainly has speed and there is no substitute for pure speed.
“James is just an athlete and he has been doing some really good things up at the Titans.”
The likelihood of a rep call-up for Roberts will also help his upcoming contract negotiations with the Gold Coast.
While coach Neil Henry is an unabashed fan, the Titans squad is facing a massive overhaul in the next 12 months, with captain Nate Myles, former skipper Greg Bird and boom halfback Kane Elgey among the list of players rumoured to be looking elsewhere.
Both Elgey and Myles have been linked with a move to the Sea Eagles, with Myles revealing club officials had yet to contact his management since their shock decision not to take up the one-year option they had available to them.
“No decision has been made either way, so as things stand I am still uncontracted for next season,” Myles said.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spor...-1227300754534
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Posted in SS & R thread but also relevant..
Gold Coast Titans move quickly to lock in speedster James Roberts
TRAVIS MEYN
GOLD COAST BULLETIN
APRIL 13, 2015 12:00AM
THE Titans are on the verge of securing slick centre James Roberts to a long-term deal as the excitement machine sets his sights on the Gold Coast’s season tryscoring record.
Roberts bagged a hat-trick in the Titans’ 38-16 demolition of Parramatta on Saturday, taking his season tally to seven from six matches.
David Mead, who plays outside Roberts, holds the club record after scoring 16 tries from 24 games in the wooden-spoon season of 2011.
Roberts has an incredible ability to cross the tryline, having scored 12 times in 18 appearances for the Titans and 23 times in his 33-game career.
The 22-year-old will come up against former club Penrith at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday and the Titans are making moves to ensure he wears a Gold Coast jersey for years to come.
Roberts told the Bulletin recently he was “loving it on the Gold Coast” and ready to commit to the club.
Titans coach Neil Henry will meet with his manager, Daryl Mather, in the coming weeks and said Roberts was definitely a player he wanted to retain.
“We will. He’s on the list to re-sign, for sure,” he said.
“We’ll have to negotiate with his manager. He’s in town in the next few weeks so we’ll start some early talks about that.
“Jimmy’s in no huge rush. He wants to stay and he’s settled here so we’ll end up tabling something for him shortly.”
Roberts used his scintillating speed to pinch two intercepts in the Parramatta game and brute strength to score the other.
But his potency was most visible when he put Mead over in the corner after turning Eels centre Ryan Morgan inside-out.
Roberts’ decision-making is still a work in progress and Henry said he was keen to develop.
“He knows he’s got a fair bit to learn and we’re working on his defence,” Henry said.
“There’s no doubt he’s got some raw ability. He’s quick, elusive and strong.
“It was nice to see him do an in-and-away and give Meady the chance to score a try. He’s got that football sense to do that.”
Titans captain Nate Myles said Roberts was still to realise his potential but was showing great improvements every week.
“He’s improving every day,” he said.
“I don’t think he knows how good he is but it’s a work in progress for Jimmy and it’s good to see he’s moving in the right way.
“It’s good to have on your side.”
http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/...-1227300871007