FORMER New Zealand international Ben Roberts has all but ruled out a midseason move from Canterbury to another club, saying the Bulldogs have told him they will not grant him a release to reignite his NRL career elsewhere. The five-eighth is stuck in NSW Cup and has not played a first-grade game this season, with Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore preferring Kris Keating to partner Trent Hodkinson in the halves.
What is Canterbury's trash would be the treasure of a rival club such as Cronulla, who have admitted they are looking to strengthen their squad in mid-season. Roberts, 25, was one of the players targeted by the Sharks but the former Kiwis playmaker said yesterday he was resigned to staying at Canterbury and waiting patiently for a top-grade opportunity.
''I've pretty much convinced myself that I'm not going anywhere,'' Roberts told ABC Radio. ''[Bulldogs CEO] Todd Greenberg has made it clear to myself and my manager that he wants to keep me there for depth, just in case something does go wrong in the side.
''If there is an injury, it's always handy to have someone else there to fill in and get the job done.''
Roberts said he had not given up hope of playing again for New Zealand, which he last represented in 2007, even though he had since donned a Samoa jersey at international level. He remains upbeat despite languishing in second grade, and insisted he did not resent the Bulldogs going shopping for new halves late last year.
''I had a setback last year with a pretty bad injury, and Kevin Moore has … given Kris Keating the first crack at it. Kris is doing well, why change a winning side?'' Roberts said. ''After he [signed] Keating and Hodkinson, [Moore] sat down and actually told me before it got out in the press.
''He pretty much just said, 'It's good to have that kind of pressure behind you to keep you on your toes.' I was just unlucky that I haven't been given first crack but I'm not going to feel sorry for myself or be kicking stones or whatever.
''I'm just trying to concentrate on what is ahead for me, and that is playing good footy week-in week-out in NSW Cup and trying to get myself up there [in contention].''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-out-switch-20110508-1eeaw.html#ixzz1Lnc6WX6H
What is Canterbury's trash would be the treasure of a rival club such as Cronulla, who have admitted they are looking to strengthen their squad in mid-season. Roberts, 25, was one of the players targeted by the Sharks but the former Kiwis playmaker said yesterday he was resigned to staying at Canterbury and waiting patiently for a top-grade opportunity.
''I've pretty much convinced myself that I'm not going anywhere,'' Roberts told ABC Radio. ''[Bulldogs CEO] Todd Greenberg has made it clear to myself and my manager that he wants to keep me there for depth, just in case something does go wrong in the side.
''If there is an injury, it's always handy to have someone else there to fill in and get the job done.''
Roberts said he had not given up hope of playing again for New Zealand, which he last represented in 2007, even though he had since donned a Samoa jersey at international level. He remains upbeat despite languishing in second grade, and insisted he did not resent the Bulldogs going shopping for new halves late last year.
''I had a setback last year with a pretty bad injury, and Kevin Moore has … given Kris Keating the first crack at it. Kris is doing well, why change a winning side?'' Roberts said. ''After he [signed] Keating and Hodkinson, [Moore] sat down and actually told me before it got out in the press.
''He pretty much just said, 'It's good to have that kind of pressure behind you to keep you on your toes.' I was just unlucky that I haven't been given first crack but I'm not going to feel sorry for myself or be kicking stones or whatever.
''I'm just trying to concentrate on what is ahead for me, and that is playing good footy week-in week-out in NSW Cup and trying to get myself up there [in contention].''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-out-switch-20110508-1eeaw.html#ixzz1Lnc6WX6H
![[FKN-SIK]](/forum/data/avatars/m/1/1928.jpg?1456554858){kind=avatar}
