Jet must fuel up or fly out of town

JAMES Roberts is effectively playing to save his career as a Bronco in the next few weeks after being left out of the starting side for the important clash with Manly on Friday at Suncorp Stadium.

Roberts trained in an opposition team at Broncos training yesterday and he is in line to lose his centre spot in the team to be named today when coach Anthony Seibold looks for a circuit breaker to his team’s 2-6 season start.

Roberts, who insisted last week that rumours that he wanted to return to Sydney were wrong, has a deal until the end of 2021. The NSW Origin player will either be an interchange player for the NRL side this week or more likely be dropped to an Intrust Super Cup affiliate.

Kotoni Staggs trained at left centre with Jack Bird, who has played in that spot this year, changing sides to train in Roberts’ usual right centre spot.

Jamayne Isaako seems set to be replaced by Gehamat Shibasaki, who trained in his right-wing role.

“I think we are going to go with Staggs in the backline and Jamayne and Jimmy miss out,’’ skipper Darius Boyd said.