Tyrone Roberts could play a new role at the Titans in 2017

GOLD Coast coach Neil Henry has indicated Tyrone Roberts is in line for a new role next season with the NRL club spoiled for choice in the halves.

Tyrone Roberts is in line for a utility role in 2017. Photo: Jerad Williams

GOLD Coast coach Neil Henry has indicated Tyrone Roberts could be used in a utility role next season with the NRL club spoiled for choice in the halves.

Seen as the future of the club a year ago, playmaker Kane Elgey will return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament for pre-season training next Thursday after missing the 2016 season.

In his place the Titans unearthed the Dally M rookie of the year Ash Taylor, who combined with five-eighth Tyrone Roberts to steer the club to their first finals campaign since 2010.

But Henry suggested that Roberts, who played 13 games off the bench during his time at Newcastle, could be used in a utility role.

“Tyrone Roberts is happy to be a utility as well,” Henry said.

“He’s not a small half. He’s 90-odd kilos, and if need be he’s a back-up hooker for us.”

Tyrone Roberts in action for the Titans. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The Titans have a utility spot on the bench spare, after former captain Nathan Friend retired from the game last season.

However shifting Roberts there would likely stop Nathan Peats from returning to being an 80-minute hooker, a role he fulfilled only twice last year after barely leaving the field for Parramatta in 2014 and 2015.

“Nathan Peats wants to play 80 minutes,” Henry said.

“But it’s good to know that Tyrone has got his head around playing a number of positions as well.”

Henry is not willing to rush his decision though, and will likely watch with interest how the 2017 pre-season unfolds before making a final call.

Roberts has previously said he would prefer to play in the halves, and this summer will present the first chance for Peats and fullback Jarryd Hayne to spend a pre-season with the playmakers after both joining midway through last season.

“It’s probably seeing who puts their hand up really,” Henry said.

“We’ve really got three out of four positions where they haven’t really had much training at all together.

“The only constant there has been Ash Taylor who is a rookie who came up and played the whole season.”

Meanwhile Elgey, 22, said he was yet to speak with Henry in detail about his plans for next year, but was confident he had fully overcome his injury.

“The ACL is fine,” he said.

“It was feeling 100 per cent over the last few rounds of last year so it was a little bit frustrating.”

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Originally published as Tyrone Roberts could play a new role at the Titans in 2017