Roberts keen to try
Hospitalised with a virus, ‘The Jet’ wants all-clear to smash record
JAMES Roberts will board a plane bound for Townsville this morning in a desperate bid to break David Mead’s Titans tryscoring record.
Roberts was hospitalised this week after contracting a virus which grounded “The Jet”.
Mead will also miss the clash while he awaits the birth of he and wife Taneal’s first child.
Roberts equalled Mead’s 2011 record of 16 tries in a season against the Bulldogs three weeks ago but hasn’t scored since.
The Titans will round out their season against the Cowboys tonight and coach Neil Henry said he was confident Roberts would take the field.
“James has a bit of a virus but he’s on antibiotics and will travel up with the under-20s (today),” he said. “Hopefully he gets out of bed and gets on with it.
“Meady’s not travelling. Taneal’s very close and being a trip where you can’t get back within an hour … family’s very important and we’re not playing for a finals spot.”
Roberts is one of three players – Josh Hoffman and Luke Douglas the others – to have played every game for the Titans this season.
He scored 14 tries in the opening 14 games of the season but has slowed dramatically with just two in the past nine weeks.
The Titans travelled to Townsville yesterday and completed their final training run in enemy territory with rookie Leva Li replacing Mead on the wing for his second NRL game.
Gold Coast has won three of its past five games following a fivematch losing streak and while they’re injury-depleted, Henry hopes they can end the season well.
“We’re a bit depleted but we’ll go up there and have a crack,” he said. “It (28-26 win over the Dragons last week) was (gutsy) and we’ve got nothing to lose.
“The boys have an eight-week break after this.
“We’re also farewelling a few players from the squad who haven’t got contracts or are moving on to other clubs. You’d hope that’s motivation.”
Kalifa Faifai Loa could replace Roberts at right centre if he doesn’t recover from his illness while Greg Bird’s quad injury did not improve enough for him to travel.