Former NRL player James Roberts charged with drugs, stolen goods offences

A former NRL representative player who was once the Dally M Centre of the Year at the height of his success has been charged after an alleged incident in Sydney’s east.

James Roberts playing for the Northern United Dirawongs in the NRRRL first grade Round 7 match in May this year.

A retired NRL superstar has been charged with possessing drugs and hundreds of dollars’ cash suspected of being stolen or illegally obtained after a vehicle stop.

On Wednesday, former NSW representative player James Roberts was issued with two future court attendance notices over an alleged incident in Sydney’s east in July.

Police charged the speedy centre with prohibited drug possession pertaining to 0.3g of cannabis leaf, and possessing unlawfully obtained goods pertaining to $1400 cash.

The alleged offences are said to have occurred between 10.45am and 11am on July 30, though the charges were only laid on Wednesday because the substance needed to be tested.

It is understood police pulled Roberts over in a random stop and formed a reasonable suspicion which led to the search of his car.

James Roberts in 2021. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Roberts, 31, did not appear in court and the matter was adjourned by a registrar with a NSW Police prosecutor’s consent.

The charges are to be mentioned again at Waverley Local Court on December 18.

Roberts is currently subject to a conditional release order without conviction after he pleaded guilty to unrelated domestic violence offences pertaining to his former partner.

Retiring Tigers player James Roberts is chaired off the field by Daine Laurie and Brent Naden of the Tigers on September 4, 2022. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The 2015 Dally M Centre of the Year played 168 games throughout his 11-year career for the Wests Tigers, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Gold Coast Titans, the Brisbane Broncos and Penrith Panthers.

The Kempsey-born man played his junior football with the Ballina Seagulls, and also played at representative level for the Indigenous All-Stars and the 2018 NSW Origin squad.

He retired from first-grade football in 2022 but has played for the Northern United Dirawongs in the Northern Rivers rugby league first grade competition in 2024.

When he retired in 2022, then-Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe described him as “one of those players who could bring a crowd to its feet”.

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Originally published as Former NRL player James Roberts charged with drugs, stolen goods offences