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@formerguest said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@JC99 said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
Looking super fit. He seems very happy at the club
Another angle.
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Jesus. He looks in better shape pre season than most blokes mid season. Very encouraging signs.
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@Mighty_Tiger said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@jadtiger said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@Newtown said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
James Roberts reveals he considered walking away from footy amid an emotional 2020 season
By George Vlotis
13 hours agoStar Tigers recruit James Roberts has revealed he considered walking away from rugby league amid an emotional 2020 season that saw the former Souths speedster grapple with demons from his past.
Roberts had a trying season - marred by injury amid the already taxing conditions of a global pandemic, the 28-year-old spent time in rehab to get on top of his mental health. Sidelined for South Sydney and with a bleak outlook, Roberts revealed he was a whisker away from walking away from the game for good.
“I was just thinking about throwing it all in and giving up and getting a normal job, just get away from everything,” Roberts told Nine News. "I was just going through the motions. I didn’t love myself. I just had no self-belief by the end of it and just didn’t know what I was doing really. I was just lost. "I’m always going to have those demons and my childhood traumas are going to pop up now and then, I’ve just got to stay on top of them. “That’s something I’m working on now, just my mental illness stuff and just talking about whatever is bothering me and trying to be as happy as I can be.”
With a new lease on footy and great opportunity under former coach Michael Maguire at Wests Tigers, Roberts said he was excited to re-ignite his career and get back to basics.
"I wanted to start over again I guess and I wanted to be challenged. Be around a younger group and work my way back into the team again and get out of my comfort zone. “I know he’s [Maguire] going to challenge me and push me to where I want to go, I just need to buy into it as well.”
I love his self criticism and honesty which is a rare commodity in a footballer.I have never been a fan of him but i sincerely hope he beats his internal issues and becomes a success as a man even if it is not on the field with us.He deserves it
One doesn’t beat then, he needs support and understanding to be able to speak openly when those demons hit him hard - which will happen.
It sounds like he however has the ability to talk and speak with confidence when something isn’t right. That’s a very positive step for him.
Yeah, it is a huge step for James to be able to speak about his demons, though I hope the club keeps him out of the spotlight and builds his self esteem through projects that he wants to deliver. Both he and the club have an opportunity to be great for each other.
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I’m really confident about Roberts. Looks like he’s enjoying himself. He was on big money at Souths and Brisbane and with that came a lot of responsibility that probably only added to his stresses.
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@avocadoontoast said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
I’m really confident about Roberts. Looks like he’s enjoying himself. He was on big money at Souths and Brisbane and with that came a lot of responsibility that probably only added to his stresses.
Pretty well the same here. It was clear to me last year that easing the pressure of having to live up to expectations and pay grade was his priority. No longer carrying that load has James released from some of that burden.
WT are taking a gamble, sure, but even if it doesn’t work out for him, I am sure that it is a winner for the club in other areas, especially for further potential recruitment.
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@formerguest said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@avocadoontoast said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
I’m really confident about Roberts. Looks like he’s enjoying himself. He was on big money at Souths and Brisbane and with that came a lot of responsibility that probably only added to his stresses.
Pretty well the same here. It was clear to me last year that easing the pressure of having to live up to expectations and pay grade was his priority. No longer carrying that load has James released from some of that burden.
WT are taking a gamble, sure, but even if it doesn’t work out for him, I am sure that it is a winner for the club in other areas, especially for further potential recruitment.
I believe it may have been his manager that was pushing for the lower salary for that reason, I guess they aren’t all just in it for themselves
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The fact he hasn’t seen out a contract is still a massive concern for me
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@happy_tiger said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
The fact he hasn’t seen out a contract is still a massive concern for me
Surely he can make it through a one year deal
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@JC99 said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@happy_tiger said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
The fact he hasn’t seen out a contract is still a massive concern for me
Surely he can make it through a one year deal
Though if he makes it through that playing the majority of games it automatically triggers a 2nd year.
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@cochise said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@JC99 said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@happy_tiger said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
The fact he hasn’t seen out a contract is still a massive concern for me
Surely he can make it through a one year deal
Though if he makes it through that playing the majority of games it automatically triggers a 2nd year.
I hope he does and then some,he is a real talent that has been left to his own devises and only now he will be put on a correct pathway for his future…mostly thanks to not only Madge and the club but Souths as well by putting him in a program to help him heal and deal with the demons…
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@TrueTiger said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@cochise said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@JC99 said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@happy_tiger said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
The fact he hasn’t seen out a contract is still a massive concern for me
Surely he can make it through a one year deal
Though if he makes it through that playing the majority of games it automatically triggers a 2nd year.
I hope he does and then some,he is a real talent that has been left to his own devises and only now he will be put on a correct pathway for his future…mostly thanks to not only Madge and the club but Souths as well by putting him in a program to help him heal and deal with the demons…
Very well said mate, if he plays the majority of games then we are looking good for the finals. I’m very happy we made this signing.
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@cochise said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@TrueTiger said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@cochise said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@JC99 said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@happy_tiger said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
The fact he hasn’t seen out a contract is still a massive concern for me
Surely he can make it through a one year deal
Though if he makes it through that playing the majority of games it automatically triggers a 2nd year.
I hope he does and then some,he is a real talent that has been left to his own devises and only now he will be put on a correct pathway for his future…mostly thanks to not only Madge and the club but Souths as well by putting him in a program to help him heal and deal with the demons…
Very well said mate, if he plays the majority of games then we are looking good for the finals. I’m very happy we made this signing.
I’m not so sure about that. It was also in Souths best interests to free up space than deal with his health. They’re not stupid.
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@rustycage said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@cochise said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@TrueTiger said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@cochise said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@JC99 said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@happy_tiger said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
The fact he hasn’t seen out a contract is still a massive concern for me
Surely he can make it through a one year deal
Though if he makes it through that playing the majority of games it automatically triggers a 2nd year.
I hope he does and then some,he is a real talent that has been left to his own devises and only now he will be put on a correct pathway for his future…mostly thanks to not only Madge and the club but Souths as well by putting him in a program to help him heal and deal with the demons…
Very well said mate, if he plays the majority of games then we are looking good for the finals. I’m very happy we made this signing.
I’m not so sure about that. It was also in Souths best interests to free up space than deal with his health. They’re not stupid.
They may not be stupid,but they may also be concerned about the man himself…we dont know what the reasons were but at least Souths sought the man help,irrespective of the reasoning…
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@TrueTiger said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@rustycage said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@cochise said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@TrueTiger said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@cochise said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@JC99 said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
@happy_tiger said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
The fact he hasn’t seen out a contract is still a massive concern for me
Surely he can make it through a one year deal
Though if he makes it through that playing the majority of games it automatically triggers a 2nd year.
I hope he does and then some,he is a real talent that has been left to his own devises and only now he will be put on a correct pathway for his future…mostly thanks to not only Madge and the club but Souths as well by putting him in a program to help him heal and deal with the demons…
Very well said mate, if he plays the majority of games then we are looking good for the finals. I’m very happy we made this signing.
I’m not so sure about that. It was also in Souths best interests to free up space than deal with his health. They’re not stupid.
They may not be stupid,but they may also be concerned about the man himself…we dont know what the reasons were but at least Souths sought the man help,irrespective of the reasoning…
I’m just saying the timing was very convenient for them. I’m not saying they’re guilty of not caring.
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@happy_tiger said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
The fact he hasn’t seen out a contract is still a massive concern for me
I have never been a fan of him but he has never played for his livelihood before and now he is.If he makes a success this year i hope the club upgrades his contract to reflect what he has achieved.That alone will make our club a greater attraction for players and more importantly give Roberts the support he needs.I wish him luck
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@happy_tiger said in Wests Tigers sign James Roberts till 2022:
The fact he hasn’t seen out a contract is still a massive concern for me
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