Crash Tackle: Broncos’ bold plan to jolt James Roberts on NRL future

Robert Craddock looks at the big talking points coming out of the NRL, including the selection stunner Brisbane planned to jolt James Roberts on his rugby league future.

Anthony Seibold chats with James Roberts during a Broncos training session. Picture: AAP

Each week, The Courier-Mail’s chief sportswriter Robert Craddock looks at the big talking points coming out of the NRL.

OFFSIDE

BOLD PLAN TO GROUND ‘JET’

The Broncos planned to use selection room shock therapy to see precisely what lies in James Roberts’ heart.

As Roberts battled injury in recent weeks and his future with the club hangs in the balance, Broncos officials discussed sending him back to the Intrust Cup to one of their four feeder clubs.

It would have been a stinging demotion but the thinking was it would have either roused his competitive instincts or he would have waved the white flag and wanted out.

The idea failed to leave the tarmac, a shame because at least it would have brought the issue of Roberts’ future to a head. Speculation of a move to South Sydney continues to swirl.

Anthony Seibold chats with James Roberts during a Broncos training session. Picture: AAP

HALF A PROBLEM

Feel free to make up your own mind about whether Kodi Nikorima (right) should have stayed with the Broncos or gone to the Warriors but one thing is clear. To tell a player a week before the biggest game of the season that he would be ­demoted next year was poor timing in the ­extreme,
especially given his popularity in the team.

MEDIA UNDER FIRE

Crash Tackle has received several angry emails over the past week from readers saying the media (including yours truly) have been too soft on Darius Boyd as one of the culprits for the Broncos’ form slump.

Several noted how Boyd’s $800,0000 a year, four-year deal had the potential to become a nightmare for the club given his woeful form.

One asked whether ageing sportsmen subconsciously “pace’’ themselves through the early stages of long-term deals in an unwitting attempt to go the journey. Fair question. Impossible to answer.

Darius Boyd’s form for Brisbane has come in for criticism. Picture: AAP

FACEBOOK FOLLIES

The horrendous online abuse of Channel 9 reporter Erin Molan shows — yet again — Facebook is not doing enough to crack down on online trolls.

Molan received life-threatening taunts and, according to her, Facebook’s reaction was “they didn’t deem the messages to be abusive and offensive”.

It cemented the thought that Facebook are years behind where they should be in online security and accountability.

SIGNING WARS

Talent scouts are clashing on the worth of Broncos star Tevita Pangai Jr.

Some believe he is one of the next big forward stars of the game while at least one Sydney coach feels while his big hits are spectacular, he lacks peripheral vision and needs to work more closely within the team plan.

ONSIDE

NO CROW FROM ROOSTER

The truly scary thing about Latrell Mitchell is not how well he’s playing — but that he thinks he can improve.

Watching Mitchell — part four-wheel drive, part Ferrari — score three tries and lay on two more for the Sydney Roosters against Wests Tigers was to witness the game’s most watchable player in full flight.

“People are saying it’s 10 out of 10 but I don’t think it is,” Mitchell said.

“I didn’t help the boys coming out of the back field and that is something I really want to pride myself on.”

Queensland beware.

Latrell Mitchell reckons he can improve, which is a scary thought for his rivals. Picture: AAP

THE STRAIGHTEST ARROW

There’s a new statistic published by the NRL which says everything about Gold Coast lock Jai Arrow’s incredible inner drive.

It’s post contact metres and he’s second on 476m, five behind Josh McGuire. No wonder former NRL forward Martin Lang called him one of the top-five forwards in the competition.

I HEAR NOTHING

Darius Boyd has been copping a lot of abuse on social media — but the punches have been hitting clean air.

Several young Broncos players have been rattled by things said about them on social media but Boyd is deliberately not on it for this reason.

It does not mean he will play better. But it means he has a clearer head.

DEAR TOM

It may have been a blessing for Tom Dearden that he made a promising debut for the Broncos without tearing the house down. Sometimes players struggle to keep pace with public expectations in Brisbane if they start their careers with a five-star game and are instantly ordained as the game’s new wonder boy.

GOOD CHRISTIAN

Melbourne Storm prop Christian Welsh continues to impress as a player and man.

Welsh launched a social media appeal to help find accommodation for a family “doing it tough’’ during Magic Round in Brisbane this week then put things in place behind the scenes.