Gold Coast Titans turn to five-eighth Tyrone Roberts to replace Ryan James as captain

An emotional Tyrone Roberts shed a tear after injured Titans captain Ryan James handed him the reins for the rest of the 2019 NRL season.

AN emotional Tyrone Roberts shed a tear after injured Titans captain Ryan James handed him the reins for the rest of the 2019 NRL season.

James suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear in Gold Coast’s 38-14 win over Newcastle on Sunday, with Roberts thrust into the role mid-match.

Coach Garth Brennan had discussions with club powerbrokers including head of performance and culture Mal Meninga, chairman Dennis Watt and co-owners Rebecca Frizelle and Darryl Kelly before a consensus was reached to entrust the veteran five-eighth with the responsibility.

DON’S ENDORSEMENT OF ROBERTS

James announced Roberts would take over as skipper at a team meeting on Wednesday morning.

“It’s going to mean a lot, I was honoured,” Roberts, 27, said.

Tyrone Roberts at Cbus Super Stadium. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I had to sit in my car and I shed a little tear just because I was so emotional.

“It’s a big part, to be responsible for the whole team and just to represent my family and everything else involved.

“(James) has been a big part of this club and I’m sure I’m going to lean on him and KP (Kevin Proctor) and the other leaders in this team for advice and just to help me along the way as well.”

There are two key ways Roberts wants to lead.

“Actions speak louder than words. That’s the way I was brought up,” he said.

“(And) I want to be approachable.

Tyrone Roberts celebrates his second try against the Knights in Round 6. Picture: AAP Image

“Being a captain, you want to see the young kids who are coming through the club, if they want to ask a strong question or big question, they can come to me. That’s sort of the role I was doing before and now that I have got the ‘c’, I don’t want anything to change.”

After five seasons at the Knights, where he looked up to indigenous star Timana Tahu, Roberts played 41 games for the Titans across 2016 and 2017.

He admits he “didn’t want to leave” for English Super League club Warrington the following year but gladly returned for 2019.

Brennan has repeatedly expressed his gratefulness for having Roberts back on deck and said it was important to the Titans to have another local product – Roberts played juniors for Ballina – captaining the club.

Bryce Cartwright gingerly left the training paddock early on Wednesday but is expected to be fit to face Wests Tigers in Tamworth on Saturday.