Ben Roberts

[Allerton eskimo]

Let’s face it... it will be the hottest debated topic and worthy of its own thread!

[Surreycasfan]

Come on get behind the boys

[Allerton eskimo]

I don’t disagree - this is a thread for good and bad. The fact is that the choice to put Roberts at full back is controversial so worth debate.

[nottinghamtiger]

My opinion is he is lazy. That’s not conducive to playing at full back.
Too lazy to return a 40-20.
Too lazy to work hard across the back of the line so he can cover kicks through.
All full-backs make mistakes. It’s an exposed position and I have no real issues with him dropping the odd high kick and fumbling the odd pick-up.
What I take issue with is his lack of effort.
And to rub salt into the wounds, we’ll probably get fined as he’s wearing the wrong socks.

[nottinghamtiger]

My opinion is he is lazy. That’s not conducive to playing at full back.
Too lazy to return a 40-20.
Too lazy to work hard across the back of the line so he can cover kicks through.
All full-backs make mistakes. It’s an exposed position and I have no real issues with him dropping the odd high kick and fumbling the odd pick-up.
What I take issue with is his lack of effort.
And to rub salt into the wounds, we’ll probably get fined as he’s wearing the wrong socks.

Though watching McMeekan get to a kick before our full-back, I’m wondering if it’s not laziness but a lack of fitness. Roberts just can’t seem to make the ground he needs to so he’s in the right place.

[old cas lass]

Makes you wonder what they’ve been doing for 4 months.

[KB80]

Makes you wonder what they’ve been doing for 4 months.

Its an odd one. Did he coaching staff not realise he wasn't fit enough to play full back before tonight?!

[nottinghamtiger]

Makes you wonder what they’ve been doing for 4 months.

Its an odd one. Did he coaching staff not realise he wasn't fit enough to play full back before tonight?!

Nothing can replicate the intensity of match conditions.
Some players can look like World-beaters in training but crumble in competitive action.
Roberts at full-back is one such example.

[KB80]

Makes you wonder what they’ve been doing for 4 months.

Its an odd one. Did he coaching staff not realise he wasn't fit enough to play full back before tonight?!

Nothing can replicate the intensity of match conditions.
Some players can look like World-beaters in training but crumble in competitive action.
Roberts at full-back is one such example.

Kind of agree, except he was blowing 15 minutes in....

[Tamworth Tiger]

[quote="old cas lass"]Makes you wonder what they’ve been doing for 4 months.[/quote
Fair comment. Well into his 30s and playing in the World Cup through November

[ERG2012]

Makes you wonder what they’ve been doing for 4 months.[/quote
Fair comment. Well into his 30s and playing in the World Cup through November

Count how many Saints players were involved in the world Cup...

[Lofthouse Tiger]

8

[Tamworth Tiger]

Makes you wonder what they’ve been doing for 4 months.[/quote
Fair comment. Well into his 30s and playing in the World Cup through November

Count how many Saints players were involved in the world Cup...[/quote
How many of them were as old as Ben Roberts?

[Bolton-tiger]

Makes you wonder what they’ve been doing for 4 months.[/quote
Fair comment. Well into his 30s and playing in the World Cup through November

Count how many Saints players were involved in the world Cup...

8 players who played in the world cup played tonight and look how well they played for saints.i agree with other people roberts was lazy tonight and is not our anser to the full back position.look at him compared to barba and barba showed roberts howbto properly play full back he had his hands in everything from attack to defence to kicking

[Scoopage]

We’re Playing someone at full back who hasn’t played there his whole career apart from odd occasion he covered dorn.he just isn’t capable.he must have done some special things in training.a full back needs to have safe hands and Roberts hasn’t got that at all.we were truly blessed last season to have hardaker.mcmeeken was horrendous also.lazy performance from him.are timing in attack was well off and our defensive reads poor.need to get back on horse v Widnes

[Tamworth Tiger]

Makes you wonder what they’ve been doing for 4 months.[/quote
Fair comment. Well into his 30s and playing in the World Cup through November

Count how many Saints players were involved in the world Cup...

8 players who played in the world cup played tonight and look how well they played for saints.i agree with other people roberts was lazy tonight and is not our anser to the full back position.look at him compared to barba and barba showed roberts howbto properly play full back he had his hands in everything from attack to defence to kicking

Looked like fitness rather than laziness to me

[Lofthouse Tiger]

I am not going to bag Roberts. He isnt a full back and shouldnt be there. We dont have anyone in this squad that can play fb. We should have brought someone in when the cokehead sh*t on the club.

[nottinghamtiger]

Makes you wonder what they’ve been doing for 4 months.[/quote
Fair comment. Well into his 30s and playing in the World Cup through November

Count how many Saints players were involved in the world Cup...

8 players who played in the world cup played tonight and look how well they played for saints.i agree with other people roberts was lazy tonight and is not our anser to the full back position.look at him compared to barba and barba showed roberts howbto properly play full back he had his hands in everything from attack to defence to kicking

Looked like fitness rather than laziness to me

I’m going for laziness. I don’t buy that a pro RL player isn’t fit enough to change direction less than 20 minutes into a game. His work across the back of the line is just lazy too - he just meanders around at walking-pace as the ball moves from one side to the other, so he’s well out of position when the line is broken or he needs to field a kick.

[Spanishtiger]

In fairness to Roberts it was a big ask, his usual role is to drift in and out of play as an attacking impact player and his defensive contribution is normally as a marker tackler.

[fords]

In fairness to Roberts it was a big ask, his usual role is to drift in and out of play as an attacking impact player and his defensive contribution is normally as a marker tackler.

He don't have the legs, never needed them before. Being 32 don't help neither