Unsung Robson desperate to stay an Eel

Parramatta halfback Jeff Robson says he is desperate to remain at the Eels next season after proving he could be the answer to the NRL club's problematic No.7 position.The 27-year-old playmaker, who joined the Eels from Manly at the start of the year, has been one of the unsung heroes in the team's recent good run of form which has seen them make an unlikely charge for a finals spot after three successive wins.After making just six first-grade appearances in five seasons with the Sea Eagles, Robson looked to be drifting out of the game after being released by the reigning premiers before being given a lifeline by Eels coach Daniel Anderson.Anderson handed Robson a one-year deal to be the club's third-choice halfback, behind Brett Finch and Kris Keating, and although he jumped at the chance to stay in the NRL, he also kept his job as landscaper to top up his salary.However, with Finch being shown the door by Anderson after just three games, and Keating breaking his jaw in round 10 against Manly, Robson was handed the task of guiding a struggling team around the field.After initially failing to make an impression, Robson and young five-eighth Daniel Mortimer have since developed a burgeoning partnership and he said he's desperate to build on it."It is just good to get a few back-to-back games behind me and get my confidence up," Robson told AAP."I never really got too much of a chance at Manly and coming here I have been able to get an opportunity and I want to stay."These are really exciting times at the club especially with the signings we have made for next season."Eels chief executive Paul Osborne says a deal is ready to be offered to Robson's manager in the next week or so and hoped to be in a position to offer a new deal to lock Todd Lowrie who is also off-contract."These two guys have been in really good form recently and we want them to stay," Osborne told AAP.

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Replies

ElDoughan August 3, 2009 at 8:15pm

i hope we can resign kingston he has bin great for us. also robson deserves to be retained. he isnt as skillful as the other halfbacks in the game tho you cant fault his effort. and also screw lowrie he has only started to play good now that his contract is up renew both smith and Joe G
timbodavo August 3, 2009 at 8:30pm

I gotta say im a fan of robson. Not alot special in attack but does his job and excellent defender alot of solid 1 on 1 effective tackles
- Johno > timbodavo August 3, 2009 at 9:22pm
  
  Not only that, but he has directed the team around the park and now our forward pack has become dominant. I'm very reserved whether KK can do that!
  - Rod Farva > Johno August 3, 2009 at 9:49pm
    
    Short memory you got there. K.Keating was one of Parramatta's best before he was injured.
    - 1Eyed Eel > Rod Farva August 3, 2009 at 10:28pm
      
      I have to agree Rod. I keep coming back to this perception that our half back does any organisation. Robson played 80 minutes on the weekend for 40 carries. Mortimer only played 50 minutes for 41 carries. Mortimer made 5 runs, Robson none. Almost all of Parramatta's organisation takes place at dummy half and then almost all of our attacking decisions is made by Mortimer and Hayne. Robson is simply a link in the chain to get the ball out wide and provide another kicking option.
      
      I don't want to be seen as knocking down Robson. When your half plays a limited role like he is now, all you can expect him to do is defend and kick well enough when needed and he does that but anyone that thinks Keating won't be able to step straight into that attack has a very short memory.
      
      Here's some stats for you. Robson at half back (post Keating's injury): 11 games. 2 try assists 2 line breaks
      Keating at half back (2.5 games. 2 try assists, 3 line breaks)
blueNgold August 3, 2009 at 9:26pm

I'm glad Robson will hopefully be retained, he has done a valiant job this season filling in at 7, and tbh he hasn't done any worse than what Finch was doing.

But where are we getting the money for Lowrie? I must admit it annoys me a little that a player like lowrie who has offered very litte over 2 and a half season, starts playing OK the last 6 weeks (along with the team generally playing better mind you) and now we want to keep them..

Don't get me wrong, i won't mind at all keeping Lowrie as a back up backrower but he honestly isnt worth more than 70-80k and i'd much rather use that on trying to retain Joe G, who i believe can still be in our top 17 next season.
blueNgold August 3, 2009 at 9:33pm

That's a real shame about Kinga aswell Miatch, maybe the club took it the wrong way when he sent it back.

I know that DA is well aware of the impact Kingston is making, and hopefully we can squeeze him in somewhere, however reality is that with Anthony Mitchell already signed that Kinga might be surplus to requirements, some club will get themselves a bargain with him however, just like we did this season.
Djl August 3, 2009 at 10:02pm

re sign robson for sure as for lowrie so buddy but id rather keep kevin kingston
- 1Eyed Eel > Djl August 4, 2009 at 12:12pm
  
  That was last year before the tax changes. Its generally no longer a money think for your key players to go the UK. I think you'll find a lot more your fringe first graders going over there and picking up the same salaries as established first graders. Can't imagine Fuifui enjoying the cold over there, and I reckon he'll end up re-signing with us beyond next year.
Camo73 August 4, 2009 at 2:03pm

The best news of all is hearing how so many current players want to be a part of the Eel's future. It has been a long time since so many players have publicly come out and said that they want to stay in the blue and gold. We have some very exciting times ahead.

I love reading about our team and having them in the press for positive reasons. Very different to not so long ago when DF was CEO.