James Roberts signs with the Brisbane Broncos

[broncos4life]

Time for Taylor to shine.

Taylor?!? Josh's last name is Hoffman.

 

[Morkel]

I love Roberts' footwork in the try against the Bulldogs. The balance is phenomenal.

On his acceleration, it seems to me he is best between the 5-10 metre mark. Smaller, zippier players like Milford (and Barba at his peak) would beat opponents by tearing away during the 2-5 metre mark, but Roberts seems to go from half pace to full pace in just a matter of strides. Perfect for support and centre play.

 

[Super Freak]

WHEN Wayne Bennett had the chance to gain the services of James Roberts there was one crucial quality he saw - unpredictability.

Bennett welcomed Roberts to his first Broncos' training run yesterday by introducing him to his new teammates.

On what he described as 'a wonderful day' for the club, the master coach revealed what caught his eye about the former Titan.

"We hope he has a long future and he brings the qualities we know he has for us," said Bennett.

"It is a wonderful day for us.

"He just has that unpredictably, that 'X factor' that great players have, which is pretty God-given actually.

"He has got it and it is something that will complement what we have here."

Bennett said the Broncos were surprised the cards had fallen in their favour to deliver the Dally M centre of the year to Red Hill.

Roberts said yesterday he had picked the Broncos from a host of other suitors because of the Queensland lifestyle and the aura of the Brisbane club.

Bennett said he expected Roberts to be a Bronco for the long term.

"It was totally unexpected and wasn't part of our plans," said Bennett.

"But the opportunity arose and we didn't want to miss that opportunity.

"We grabbed it and he made the decision to come here.

"We are elated he has come here and we do see it as a life contract now.

"He has been to two or three clubs but as we have done with our players in the past, once they have performed to expectations they have no fear about their futures.

"He came here for the right reasons. He did have better offers elsewhere, there is no doubt about that.

"But he came here because of the lifestyle and the quality of the club and I like that part about it."

Roberts' Special Quality - Broncos

 

[talanoa]

he is undoubtedly the quickest player in the game, he is a real finsiher and and game winner. one thing i forgot about him was the amount of intercepts he took last year.

i wonder how that will fit into the bennett plan of a holding defence, wayne doesnt generally like a broken defensive line so i wonder if he will instruct roberts to stick shoulder to shoulder or take more of a risk and go for the big play??

the other thing that intrigues me is how he will be used? he replaces hodges who was a dominant dumny half runner more than a traditional back line threat of a normal centre. i have a feeling they may play roberts in and around the ruck and even 1 off in a support role on those plays where parker and blair look for the offloads??? food for thought as he would cut the middle to shreds on second phase with slow forwards retreating in defense

 

[Sirlee oldman]

he is undoubtedly the quickest player in the game, he is a real finsiher and and game winner. one thing i forgot about him was the amount of intercepts he took last year.

i wonder how that will fit into the bennett plan of a holding defence, wayne doesnt generally like a broken defensive line so i wonder if he will instruct roberts to stick shoulder to shoulder or take more of a risk and go for the big play??

the other thing that intrigues me is how he will be used? he replaces hodges who was a dominant dumny half runner more than a traditional back line threat of a normal centre. i have a feeling they may play roberts in and around the ruck and even 1 off in a support role on those plays where parker and blair look for the offloads??? food for thought as he would cut the middle to shreds on second phase with slow forwards retreating in defense

Hodges changed his game when he lost his pace. I think Roberts will play a more normal centre game. They will bring Boyd into the back line plays with the goal of getting Roberts into one on one situations or outside his opponent. It should also be Boyds job to appear 2 out from the ruck supporting our halves when they cut those tired forwards up. Not sure we want Roberts too close to the middle and running into the shoulder of some half smart second rower.

 

[Brent81]

Two things about Roberts:

1) do you notice the number of overlaps he creates through sheer speed (ie he engages the winger because he gets outside the centre). Kahu needs to be ready because if he can keep up with Roberts he's going to get a lot of untouched runs to the line.

2) he'll help hunt because the opposition left centre won't be able to jam in on him if he gets outside the opposition left side second rower - meaning that there will be more space.

 

[winslow_wong]

I hope to see a lot more attack and tries on our right hand side this season. 2 guns out there so I'm sure hunts game will go up a level too

 

[Nashy]

Two things about Roberts:

1) do you notice the number of overlaps he creates through sheer speed (ie he engages the winger because he gets outside the centre). Kahu needs to be ready because if he can keep up with Roberts he's going to get a lot of untouched runs to the line.

2) he'll help hunt because the opposition left centre won't be able to jam in on him if he gets outside the opposition left side second rower - meaning that there will be more space.

I can't see Kahu's busted up body keeping up with that pace.

 

[Morkel]

I can't see Kahu's busted up body keeping up with that pace.

Tell him to quickly run 10 metres in front of Roberts as soon as the ball has been played. Should be just enough head start.

 

[Rhino1001]

Two things about Roberts:

1) do you notice the number of overlaps he creates through sheer speed (ie he engages the winger because he gets outside the centre). Kahu needs to be ready because if he can keep up with Roberts he's going to get a lot of untouched runs to the line.

2) he'll help hunt because the opposition left centre won't be able to jam in on him if he gets outside the opposition left side second rower - meaning that there will be more space.

expecting hunt to get more tries as defenders will be expecting him to pass it to Roberts, but will dummy it more

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

expecting hunt to get more tries as defenders will be expecting him to pass it to Roberts, but will dummy it more

Absolutely.

 

[Jet]

Good signing by the club and can't wait to see him play.

He's got a lot of work to do to improve - his hands are bad, he can get lazy in defence, hardly used Mead the entire yr and I've seen him cramp twice before half time but boy oh boy he can produce a highlight

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

Good signing by the club and can't wait to see him play.

He's got a lot of work to do to improve - his hands are bad, he can get lazy in defence, hardly used Mead the entire yr and I've seen him cramp twice before half time but boy oh boy he can produce a highlight

Yeah. That'll all get fixed up. He'll be a professional soon enough

 

[Jet]

Yeah. That'll all get fixed up. He'll be a professional soon enough

:laugh:

They are basic things to fix and I expect they'll get sorted

 

[big k]

he is undoubtedly the quickest player in the game, he is a real finsiher and and game winner. one thing i forgot about him was the amount of intercepts he took last year.

i wonder how that will fit into the bennett plan of a holding defence, wayne doesnt generally like a broken defensive line so i wonder if he will instruct roberts to stick shoulder to shoulder or take more of a risk and go for the big play??

the other thing that intrigues me is how he will be used? he replaces hodges who was a dominant dumny half runner more than a traditional back line threat of a normal centre. i have a feeling they may play roberts in and around the ruck and even 1 off in a support role on those plays where parker and blair look for the offloads??? food for thought as he would cut the middle to shreds on second phase with slow forwards retreating in defense

I would think that Roberts will play a traditional centre role. We have Nikorima who will fill the around the ruck role very nicely.

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

I actually expect macca's game to go up now Hodges is out of the way.
I find Hodges' dummy half runs would often stifle maccas game. Wouldn't be good for the confidence, having a guy always pushing you out of the way saying, "all good bro, i got dis"

 

[abashii]

I actually expect macca's game to go up now Hodges is out of the way.
I find Hodges' dummy half runs would often stifle maccas game. Wouldn't be good for the confidence, having a guy always pushing you out of the way saying, "all good bro, i got dis"

A guy? Hodges wasn't just a guy, he was a god.

 

[GCBRONCO]

God might need a better source of sticky tape then.