James Roberts

[hugh1954]

Not a lot of talent left on the market it makes sense as to why we kept him we do need more depth at Centre and he wouldn’t be taking up a huge part of the cap I just hope 22 is better for him than 21 was

Not worried by Roberts in our team hope he gets a chance and excells, otherwise falls into same group as the little fella.... time to move on

 

[rustycage]

Not a lot of talent left on the market it makes sense as to why we kept him we do need more depth at Centre and he wouldn’t be taking up a huge part of the cap I just hope 22 is better for him than 21 was

I've never understood this argument. If he's no good. Any money spent is too much. Better off giving a young guy a chance and using the same reasoning ie. not costing much and a depth signing.

 

[Glenji95]

Not a lot of talent left on the market it makes sense as to why we kept him we do need more depth at Centre and he wouldn’t be taking up a huge part of the cap I just hope 22 is better for him than 21 was

I've never understood this argument. If he's no good. Any money spent is too much. Better off giving a young guy a chance and using the same reasoning ie. not costing much and a depth signing.

Given the fact that the younger guys seasons have been disrupted the last two years due to COVID a lot of them aren’t ready to make the jump to first grade it’ll probably be another 2 years before some of the young guys now make the transition to first grade

 

[rustycage]

Not a lot of talent left on the market it makes sense as to why we kept him we do need more depth at Centre and he wouldn’t be taking up a huge part of the cap I just hope 22 is better for him than 21 was

I've never understood this argument. If he's no good. Any money spent is too much. Better off giving a young guy a chance and using the same reasoning ie. not costing much and a depth signing.

Given the fact that the younger guys seasons have been disrupted the last two years due to COVID a lot of them aren’t ready to make the jump to first grade it’ll probably be another 2 years before some of the young guys now make the transition to first grade

So it's better to pay someone that's proven to be very ordinary at best? I'm not just saying Jimmy. It's an argument that's often thrown up which I can't get my head around.

 

[balmain boy]

This afternoon I got a reply from Justin Pascoe by email that James Roberts is definitely in our top 30 squad for 2022 this is great news he will be awesome for us & hopefully prove many on this forum wrong & return to be one of the elite centres in the competition.

One can only hope you misunderstood Pascoe's email.

Our management realised he wasn't up to it, even on the bargain price of less than 150k. And opted not to re-sign him. They threw him a train and trial contract which is perfect for him - if he's good enough then he still plays NRL, and if not we don't waste a top 30 spot. If we knew he wasn't good enough then why sign him now? Especially given how much cap space we still have left. It would be bewilderingly amateur to waste any further money on him.

It was rumoured that we had told him that if we couldn't sign anyone better by Christmas we'd upgrade him. And so apparently as we haven't signed more than one outside back that means we've relented and upgraded someone that we previously deemed not up to standard. Why not promote Ogden in that case? He may have a future in the NRL, he may not. Roberts has failed year on year for a while now. We can't expect miracles. Why would a player who's gone so far downhill suddenly become a star again? There's a reason he's at the last chance saloon.

If it were a done deal then why wouldn't we have just announced it?

 

[Lauren]

Weststigers social media just advised updated contract status for 2022 and beyond and James Roberts was not on the list..
Interesting - Has anyone seen photos of him this week at training or he might be out for Covid

Hasn’t been any photos from this week’s training yet.

These are the latest photos on Twitter - dating back to Christmas Eve. Not sure if already shared on here.


 

[Cobarcats]

Thanks heaps Lauren.
Gee some of the boys look big and fit.
Just what I want to see, big forwards charging into the opposition.
I'm so pumped. That's it, I'm going outside to smash a cardboard box!

 

[Bones]

This afternoon I got a reply from Justin Pascoe by email that James Roberts is definitely in our top 30 squad for 2022 this is great news he will be awesome for us & hopefully prove many on this forum wrong & return to be one of the elite centres in the competition.

One can only hope you misunderstood Pascoe's email.

Our management realised he wasn't up to it, even on the bargain price of less than 150k. And opted not to re-sign him. They threw him a train and trial contract which is perfect for him - if he's good enough then he still plays NRL, and if not we don't waste a top 30 spot. If we knew he wasn't good enough then why sign him now? Especially given how much cap space we still have left. It would be bewilderingly amateur to waste any further money on him.

It was rumoured that we had told him that if we couldn't sign anyone better by Christmas we'd upgrade him. And so apparently as we haven't signed more than one outside back that means we've relented and upgraded someone that we previously deemed not up to standard. Why not promote Ogden in that case? He may have a future in the NRL, he may not. Roberts has failed year on year for a while now. We can't expect miracles. Why would a player who's gone so far downhill suddenly become a star again? There's a reason he's at the last chance saloon.

If it were a done deal then why wouldn't we have just announced it?

I believe the second year option we had was for $250k plus so by not taking up the option and renegotiating we save money.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Thanks heaps Lauren.
**Gee some of the boys look big and fit.**
Just what I want to see, big forwards charging into the opposition.
I'm so pumped. That's it, I'm going outside to smash a cardboard box!

You could say that about almost every team at this time of year. If they don’t, somethings wrong.

 

[Telltails]

I'd love to see Roberts come good. With little out there available in the centres at very little cost to the club - it's a low risk. No players get exposed more than in the centre or fullback if they are thrown in too early or not up to FG standard. If his body can hold up - hoping for a solid year. If not we have given him every opportunity with little cost to the club.

 

[hammertime]

We actually have a tonne of centres, the challenge is that most of these guys are currently average, young or unknown quantities. It would be good to add a solid first grader there and move one on.

- Talau
- Gildart
- Tupou
- Hoffman
- AJK
- Kei
- Roberts

 

[crazycat]

modules:composer.user_said_in, @hammertime, [James Roberts](/post/1521100)
We actually have a tonne of centres, the challenge is that most of these guys are currently average, young or unknown quantities. It would be good to add a solid first grader there and move one on.

- Talau
- Gildart
- Tupou
- Hoffman
- AJK
- Kei
- Roberts

This is the real question for 2022.
It is also why I am dead against us hiring more centers unless someone awesome comes cheap.

Also thank you for saying AJK, AJ is confusing as anything.

But, my bet is Roberts with Tupou. Yet i can see people putting their hand up including Gildart.
If I was Nofa I would also watch out. Gildart, Roberts or someone could edge him for that wing spot.

 

[Cobarcats]

Thanks heaps Lauren.
**Gee some of the boys look big and fit.**
Just what I want to see, big forwards charging into the opposition.
I'm so pumped. That's it, I'm going outside to smash a cardboard box!

You could say that about almost every team at this time of year. If they don’t, somethings wrong.

Did you think of that all by yourself, wow I am impressed

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Thanks heaps Lauren.
**Gee some of the boys look big and fit.**
Just what I want to see, big forwards charging into the opposition.
I'm so pumped. That's it, I'm going outside to smash a cardboard box!

You could say that about almost every team at this time of year. If they don’t, somethings wrong.

Did you think of that all by yourself, wow I am impressed

Good stuff

 

[rustycage]

Maybe he'd look good in a dolphins jersey.

 

[InBenjiWeTrust]

Maybe he'd look good in a dolphins jersey.

IMHO. he, and Nofoaluma would look great anywhere else except the WT!

 

[Demps]

Maybe he'd look good in a dolphins jersey.

IMHO. he, and **Nofoaluma** would look great anywhere else except the WT!

? General consensus.

You might upset his 1 (singular) fan with that statement though.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Maybe he'd look good in a dolphins jersey.

IMHO. he, and **Nofoaluma** would look great anywhere else except the WT!

? General consensus.

You might upset his 1 (singular) fan with that statement though.

Doesn’t worry me.

 

[colinbh]

Maybe he'd look good in a dolphins jersey.

IMHO. he, and **Nofoaluma** would look great anywhere else except the WT!

? General consensus.

You might upset his 1 (singular) fan with that statement though.

I thought that Nofo held some kind of try scoring record for WT. Most tries for the club? Surely he cannot be the worst winger in the NRL?

 

[Demps]

Maybe he'd look good in a dolphins jersey.

IMHO. he, and **Nofoaluma** would look great anywhere else except the WT!

? General consensus.

You might upset his 1 (singular) fan with that statement though.

I thought that Nofo held some kind of try scoring record for WT. Most tries for the club? Surely he cannot be the worst winger in the NRL?

I'd take Brad Parker over him.