I'm still a work in progress: Roberts

[Super Freak]

JAMES Roberts has struggled to adapt to life at the Broncos and has bluntly declared, “I’m nowhere near my best.”

Roberts’ 90m intercept try was one of few highlights for the Broncos in last Saturday’s 40-14 loss to Canterbury. It was only his fifth try in 15 games this season.

At the Gold Coast Titans last year, Roberts had 14 four-pointers in the opening 14 matches on his way to being crowned the Dally M centre of the year.

He joined the Broncos in the pre-season following a contract bungle at the Titans.

Roberts has relied on his speed, strength and elusiveness to dominate opposition since debuting as a teenager for South Sydney in 2011.

He is adapting to a more structured style of play at right centre under Wayne Bennett at the Broncos and it is taking longer than Roberts would like to rediscover his try-scoring prowess.

“I’m nowhere near my best at the moment,” Roberts said.

“It’s a work in progress. Hopefully I can get better each week. For sure (it’s a big change playing for the Broncos). I’m still getting used to it.

“It’s a lot better type of footy but I’m still getting used to the combinations with Hunty (halfback Ben Hunt) and stuff. It’s hard but I’m slowly getting there.”

Now 23 and with 67 NRL appearances, Roberts is one of the players the Broncos are relying on to fire throughout the dangerous State of Origin period.

They have lost five of their past seven matches heading into Friday’s blockbuster against second-placed Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium.

The Broncos could welcome back Alex Glenn, Jordan Kahu and Andrew McCullough from injury and Roberts said the non-Origin players had to lift.

“They (Origin players) are our most consistent and best players. That’s why they’re up there on the big stage,” Roberts said. “They had a big game (last) Wednesday.

“We need to lift and take a bit of weight off their shoulders, especially after an Origin game. Hopefully we can fix it against the Storm.”

No Cookies | The Courier Mail

 

[vertigo]

With him parked out on the right edge doing sweet **** all most of the time I can't see him staying beyond next year if he doesn't start getting early ball into space.

 

[ivanhungryjak]

Did anyone catch the Chris Garry story on 7 news tonight? The real reason Roberts missed training and hasn't been in form - missed it.

 

[Super Freak]

Did anyone catch the Chris Garry story on 7 news tonight? The real reason Roberts missed training and hasn't been in form - missed it.

Something about his child being sick, apparently.

If it's going to be playing on his mind, and it likely will be and I don't blame him, I really think Broncos need to consider dropping him.

We can't afford to keep him in the side if he isn't giving his all.

He has more important things to worry about.

 

[ivanhungryjak]

Something about his child being sick, apparently.

If it's going to be playing on his mind, and it likely will be and I don't blame him, I really think Broncos need to consider dropping him.

We can't afford to keep him in the side if he isn't giving his all.

He has more important things to worry about.

Damn. Agree though. If his kid is crook, family comes first - give him time off. There's no shame in that.

 

[Unbreakable]

More importantly, why are his child & missus living in Sydney?.. That's gotta be a factor.

 

[Super Freak]

I don't think they are.

From all reports, his missus and child were living on the Gold Coast. James Roberts said earlier in the year his family were settled there.

It could be that perhaps they were down there at the time or there is better care available down there.

 

[Bucking Beads]

More importantly, why are his child & missus living in Sydney?.. That's gotta be a factor.

If the child is sick they could easily be getting treated in a Sydney hospital. There could be better specialist in the particular issue the child is having.

 

[Alec]

I'll be honest, I don't really rate him outside his blinding speed. In fact, I'd call all his other areas shit.

 

[subsbligh]

Showed in Round 4 why we bought him as a match winner. He's actually really impressed me with his work ethic during the last 3 weeks.

 

[Swazii]

He needs a roaming license from Bennett .. like Hodges had, if he can get that into his game he will be at his best especially with the speed he possess and footwork when he links up with the fowards or with Milf on the left hand side.

 

[Nashy]

Oh more players talking with words instead of actions. Wayne seems to have given them a lot of leeway to talk to the media.

 

[lynx000]

Oh more players talking with words instead of actions. Wayne seems to have given them a lot of leeway to talk to the media.

Nashy you are throwing out a strong challenge to my mantle as the GOB of BHQ at the moment, except you would be a GYB. I do agree with you though that I wish there was less lips flapping and more concentration on the fundamentals.

 

[rnabokov]

He needs a roaming license from Bennett .. like Hodges had, if he can get that into his game he will be at his best especially with the speed he possess and footwork when he links up with the fowards or with Milf on the left hand side.

If only .... if only Roberts was a patch on Hodgo we would be doing a whole lot better than we are. For mine, perhaps the single most telling difference between last year's performances and this year's are due to Hodges. Hodges was smart, and he had rat cunning and vision to create and/or exploit an opportunity (along with the brain explosion fails that go with that territory).

Roberts for mine has done a few very very nice things when he has moved across the park from left to right, but so far, I can't see that he has the maturity, the vision or the brains of a Hodges to be given that sort of ongoing freedom.

Wish I was wrong, hope I am and I hope Roberts grows into that role Hodgo had. That would bring so much to our backline, so so much, especially combinations with Milford

 

[winslow_wong]

I hope he sticks around with the Broncos for a while. I'm sure it's been a frustrating season for him.