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Ben Roberts seals new deal with master-class
By Josh Massoud at Suncorp Stadium | June 12, 2009 09:26pm
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Bulldogs
THE Bulldogs put on a clinic against the Broncos, running in eight tries against a Brisbane team clearly off the pace due to their swine flu disrupted preparation. / The Daily Telegraph
BULLDOGS 44 BRONCOS 22
IT WAS just as well the Bulldogs got their man this week - because had Ben Roberts not finalised a contract extension before last night's master-class, there might not have been enough money at Belmore to match his new asking price.
Fresh from agreeing to stay a Bulldog for a further two years, Roberts celebrated by going to another level with a career-best performance. Swine flu fears might have put the match in doubt, but they didn't stop the Kiwi five-eighth going full bore as he laid on six of his side's eight tries in a fast-finishing 44-22 win over a virus-hit Broncos.
Fittingly, Roberts triggered the blue-and-white avalanche with a talismanic try on 63 minutes that broke a 22-22 deadlock. After setting up the visitors' previous four tries with a mix of judicious grubbers and audacious cut-out passes, he jinked through three defenders to cap a remarkble individual performance.
Once labelled an NRL bad guy following a string of alcohol-fuelled indiscretions, Roberts suddenly found himself holding a man-of-the-match cheque for the first time in 59 NRL appearances. He later put it down to being a good guy - one who no longer drinks and this week copped a $50,000-a-season pay cut to repay the Bulldogs' faith.
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"I'm really keen to stay - the new players like Michael Ennis and Brett Kimmorley have had a big influence on my game," said Roberts, who is understood to have rejected $250,000-a-year approaches from Parramatta and Cronulla to stay loyal. "They've taken the pressure off me and allowed me to do what comes naturally and that's my running game."
With a protein shake sitting alongside him, Roberts revealed he was still on the wagon. "I stopped drinking and I can see the results," he said.
"There's been results both on the field and off it and the Bulldogs have helped me to avoid any temptations.
"I'm not going to say I'll never drink again, but it's working now so why change?"
wo selective Roberts passes shot the Bulldogs out to an early 10-0 lead, with centre Josh Morris the happy beneficiary of both.
But just as it appeared Brisbane would succumb to a trying preparation, which saw them only train yesterday after attending the funeral of revered talent scout Cyril Connell, the Bulldogs let themselves down with some poor goal-line defence.
With swine victim Karmichael Hunt inspirational, the never-say-die Broncos crossed three times before the break to lead 18-16 at halftime.
The lapse infuriated Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore, who later said: "I thought they were soft tries and I let them know it."
It was none other than Roberts who put the Bulldogs back in front - grubbering for Bryson Goodwin's first try four minutes after oranges.
The unheralded winger eventually notched a double, taking him from Cronulla reserve grade to NRL top tryscorer in less than a season.
On the opposite flank, Hazem El Masri also crossed twice and added six goals for a 20-point haul that built as the scoreboard blew out.
Reflecting on 92 conceded points in seven days, Brisbane skipper Darren Lockyer refused to use the swine flu as an excuse. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime week, really," Lockyer said. "We tried the whole game but we couldn't keep fighting in the end."
By Josh Massoud at Suncorp Stadium | June 12, 2009 09:26pm
Have your say!Add your comments or read what others are saying
Bulldogs
THE Bulldogs put on a clinic against the Broncos, running in eight tries against a Brisbane team clearly off the pace due to their swine flu disrupted preparation. / The Daily Telegraph
BULLDOGS 44 BRONCOS 22
IT WAS just as well the Bulldogs got their man this week - because had Ben Roberts not finalised a contract extension before last night's master-class, there might not have been enough money at Belmore to match his new asking price.
Fresh from agreeing to stay a Bulldog for a further two years, Roberts celebrated by going to another level with a career-best performance. Swine flu fears might have put the match in doubt, but they didn't stop the Kiwi five-eighth going full bore as he laid on six of his side's eight tries in a fast-finishing 44-22 win over a virus-hit Broncos.
Fittingly, Roberts triggered the blue-and-white avalanche with a talismanic try on 63 minutes that broke a 22-22 deadlock. After setting up the visitors' previous four tries with a mix of judicious grubbers and audacious cut-out passes, he jinked through three defenders to cap a remarkble individual performance.
Once labelled an NRL bad guy following a string of alcohol-fuelled indiscretions, Roberts suddenly found himself holding a man-of-the-match cheque for the first time in 59 NRL appearances. He later put it down to being a good guy - one who no longer drinks and this week copped a $50,000-a-season pay cut to repay the Bulldogs' faith.
Related Links
"I'm really keen to stay - the new players like Michael Ennis and Brett Kimmorley have had a big influence on my game," said Roberts, who is understood to have rejected $250,000-a-year approaches from Parramatta and Cronulla to stay loyal. "They've taken the pressure off me and allowed me to do what comes naturally and that's my running game."
With a protein shake sitting alongside him, Roberts revealed he was still on the wagon. "I stopped drinking and I can see the results," he said.
"There's been results both on the field and off it and the Bulldogs have helped me to avoid any temptations.
"I'm not going to say I'll never drink again, but it's working now so why change?"
wo selective Roberts passes shot the Bulldogs out to an early 10-0 lead, with centre Josh Morris the happy beneficiary of both.
But just as it appeared Brisbane would succumb to a trying preparation, which saw them only train yesterday after attending the funeral of revered talent scout Cyril Connell, the Bulldogs let themselves down with some poor goal-line defence.
With swine victim Karmichael Hunt inspirational, the never-say-die Broncos crossed three times before the break to lead 18-16 at halftime.
The lapse infuriated Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore, who later said: "I thought they were soft tries and I let them know it."
It was none other than Roberts who put the Bulldogs back in front - grubbering for Bryson Goodwin's first try four minutes after oranges.
The unheralded winger eventually notched a double, taking him from Cronulla reserve grade to NRL top tryscorer in less than a season.
On the opposite flank, Hazem El Masri also crossed twice and added six goals for a 20-point haul that built as the scoreboard blew out.
Reflecting on 92 conceded points in seven days, Brisbane skipper Darren Lockyer refused to use the swine flu as an excuse. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime week, really," Lockyer said. "We tried the whole game but we couldn't keep fighting in the end."
