NRL 2016: James Roberts receives advice from Gorden Tallis on how to succeed at Brisbane Broncos

STAR Broncos recruit James Roberts has been told by his one-time mentor Gorden Tallis how to be a success at the glamour NRL club.

James Roberts in action during a Broncos trial. Picture: Adam Head

STAR Broncos recruit James Roberts has been urged by his one-time mentor Gorden Tallis to put his “ego’’ in his pocket to be a success at the glamour NRL club.

Broncos coach Wayne Bennett has called for patience with Roberts, but previously compared his potential to give Brisbane a bounce with their try-scoring record-holder, Steve Renouf.

None of the big-reputation Broncos recruits this century has been an unqualified success, giving rise to queries about the recruiting choices, but also the difficulty in becoming part of a club with many top-shelf players.

These recruits include premiership-winning halfback Scott Prince (22 games when he rejoined the Broncos in 2013) and Test prop Joel Clinton (45 games in 2008-09).

Marquee recruit Ben Barba, a Dally M winner, was shown the door by Bennett after his 25 games in 2014 when the incoming coach decided he was not up to the necessary standard.

Leading players, including Anthony Mundine (18 games in one season, 1997) and the late Peter Jackson (33 games in 1989-90) left the Broncos for more responsibility at another club and injury prevented Sam Backo (23 games in 1989-90) from truly making a mark at Red Hill.

Origin players at previous clubs to enjoy Broncos success include multiple premiership winners Glenn Lazarus (137 matches for Brisbane), Kevin Walters (242), Trevor Gillmeister (80) and Tallis (169).

“It can be intimidating at the Broncos, which it was in the beginning for me, but I realised from Lazo in particular that it was a matter of earning your stripes,” said Tallis, who was so determined to become a Bronco he sat out the 1995 season rather than play another year for St George.

James Roberts in action during a Broncos trial. Picture: Adam Head

“At the Dragons, if I called the ball off (playmakers) Nathan Brown, Anthony Mundine or Noel Goldthorpe, I got it.

“When I came to Brisbane, I was chasing the ball so much, I was told to get out of the way — I was getting in Steve Renouf’s way, Darren Lockyer’s road or Kevin Walters’s road.

“You had to do your job, play the hand you got dealt. You have to put your ego in your pocket.

“James Roberts will be the same. He’s playing with two amazing young halves. He has to bide his time.

“Out of everything he has to do, it’s to do his job, You come to the Broncos as a marquee player and think, ‘I’m at the Broncos, I have to impress’. I was guilty of that initially.’’

Gorden Tallis has a high regard for James Roberts’ ability. Picture: Adam Head

Tallis has a high regard for Roberts’s ability and interacted with the new Broncos right centre as a mentor to the then 12-year-old in Sydney.

“I’m disappointed for the Titans that he left because they need players like him,’’ Tallis said.

I’m looking forward to seeing him play for the Broncos.’’