Much conjecture has followed the signing of Bulldogs five-eighth Ben Roberts. Some people see him as someone who is very hot and cold and won't fit in with Kearney's style of play. Whereas others see him as a player who can change his style to fit in with Kearney and can produce consistent football throughout the season. Now I see Ben Roberts as a player who is an essential part of the Eels Premiership Campaign this season. He's got a very good skill set who will compliment the brilliance of both Hayne and Sandow. Out of Roberts, Hayne and Sandow, Roberts has had one of the best apprenticeships a young half can have. As a young player coming into the NRL he played alongside a great and underrated halfback in Brent Sherwin. He also spent a season playing with Brett Kimmorley. Those two influences can provide a firm foundation for a young half to develop his game. Roberts arguably played his best football with Sherwin as halfback. Sherwin had a great kicking game and was someone who was a very good organiser. It allowed Roberts to showcase his game winning skills in the space this created. In Sandow, Roberts has a similar halfback. While Sandow may be a little more adventurous in his play he has a very good kicking game and can drive a forward pack, creating time and space for his backline.
Roberts himself has a lot of talent and ability. It's his capacity to harness and use that skill is what will make him a great and consistent five-eighth. He has to know when and where the game winning play is needed. With the team he has around him a lot of this pressure is off his shoulders. However, he has a pressure of his own in terms of the famous number he wears. A lot has been made of Sandow being the best halfback since Sterling wore the famous 7 over 20 years ago. Very little has been made of the fact that Roberts wears the number of the great Brett Kenny. Roberts has the ability to be a game winning five-eighth with a great turn of speed, good ball playing ability, a good kicking game and a sense for the try line.
Unfortnuately with Roberts, his standard of play dropped when Sherwin left. The desire was still there but he began to try and make the big play every time he got the ball. This is not the trademark of someone who can control and harness his ability. In a way he was playing similar to the way Hayne was playing. Trying to do too much than he really needed to. With his arrival at the Eels he can begin concentrating on just doing his job. The big plays can be left to Hayne and Sandow to do. I'm not saying he has to go into his shell. Just that he should pick his time to chime in. If he does his job the opportunities for him to impose himself will appear and it will be up to him to take advantage of those opportunities and re-discover his game breaking ability. He truly is someone who, with the support of the team behind him can be a footballing genius.
Replies
I definitely agree!!
lol high school, primary school?
Ben Roberts won't be in the team for Round 1
Haha... whatever you muppet.
Injured last night at training along with both Tongas
WTF... were you there or have the info first hand? And how bad? Spit it out!
See if you can repeat a year or two kid because you need it if the words genius and great come into your mind when you think of roberts and sherwin
I find this a bit suspect, only because there was nothing in any of the major Sydney newspapers on it today, nor on any other news site - nor has it been confirmed by the club.
Are you sure you're not getting the Tonga bros. mixed up - in the sense that both are 'recovering' from previous injures over the off-season, rather than picking up new ones?
I'd just imagine that word would have gotten out somehow, from someone on the news sphere, had there been an injury to Roberts and the Tonga bros.
All 3 Hamstring injuries at training last night
Still, 3 in training session - that's a bit hard to believe, to be honest.
If they have done so, and it is indeed true, is it the same hamstring that Willie has had problems with in the past?
Also, I'd imagine that if it were true, we surely would have seen the club confirm or at least acknowledge the injuries?
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
of 4 Next