Roberts reaps rep rewards
Gus steers Blues home
A NSW series victory is the ultimate reward for centre James Roberts, as he continues to turn his life around.
The Broncos flyer became a part of history on Sunday, helping the Blues to their first Origin series victory since 2014 in his second game for NSW.
While he felt his chances in attack were limited, Roberts still made over 100m and did well to stop Greg Inglis from doing too much damage on Queensland’s left edge.
But the win was made all the more special given everything the 25-year-old has had overcome to get to this point.
The once troubled back has battled depression, anxiety and substance abuse over his career, but in the past six months has managed to get his life on the right track.
“It’s something I will never forget,” Roberts said of the series win.
“It’s been up and down, but I think I’m in a stable part of my life at the moment. I’m just enjoying my footy.
“I’m still not at my best I guess but I’m doing my jobs for the teams I’m being selected in and that’s all I can control.” A STIRRING pre-game speech from NSW’s most successful Origin coach, Phil Gould, helped inspire the Baby Blues to one of the state’s greatest Origin victories.
Coach Brad Fittler has revealed the role his old mentor played when he addressed the team at Sydney Olympic Park’s Pullman Hotel and handed out the jerseys on the night before the game.
“Gus was awesome,” Fittler said of Gould, who upset Queensland viewers during the broadcast with his obvious leaning towards NSW.
“He had a big impact on the players. He told them what it would mean in their lives in 20 years’ time.
“(He told them) how they would look back at this moment and the effect it would have on their lives.”