Roberts won’t be giving flair the flick
TITANS excitement machine Tyrone Roberts has promised to keep bringing an off-the-cuff style to Gold Coast’s attack as he seeks to shore up his hold on the No.6 jersey.
Roberts has often been a shining light for the Titans, including during a period mid-season when he kept Jarryd Hayne out of fullback.
He is now proving a major roadblock for Kane Elgey’s return from injury to first grade, given that the side has won on all three occasions Roberts has started at five-eighth this season.
During the Titans’ 30-10 victory against Cronulla last weekend, Roberts pulled an impressive trick out of the bag with a precise behind-theback flick pass to assist a spectacular Joe Greenwood try.
“It was just backyard footy, just instinct,” the former Knight said.
“I don’t know, it just happened and heat of the moment it came off.
“When it comes off you get praised for it but when it doesn’t come off then you get the opposite, so I’m just thankful it came off.”
It’s an unteachable element of Roberts’ game and the man himself has no intentions to temper that flare.
“Yeah, well, that’s what I grew up playing and I’m in that stage now where I am happy, I’m having fun and enjoying my football,” he said.
Since Roberts joins the club in 2016, the Titans have exactly twice as good a winning record with the Roberts/Ash Taylor halves pairing (12 wins from 21 games) compared to any other combination (six wins from 21 games).
The Ballina product said their on-field success together was a reflection of their close bond away from footy.
“We have got the same managers, everything. We talk a lot,” said Roberts, who admitted he is no closer to securing his future beyond 2017.
“He (Taylor) is going good. He is back to playing the footy that he was playing last year so that’s where we want him at.”
Roberts is also enjoying his leftedge combination with Englishman Greenwood, who felt right at home in the water-soaked conditions against the Sharks at Cbus Super Stadium at Robina.
“I just love playing around in the water and playing around in the mud, it brings back memories as a little kid,” Greenwood said.