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'Unlucky the poor fella': Broncos star signing set for time on sidelines

By AAP
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Tyrone Roberts will get the chance to play as an NRL half for the first time since COVID-19 stopped the league when he replaces Adam Reynolds at Brisbane.

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Roberts will start at halfback in Friday night’s blockbuster against Melbourne, with Reynolds ruled out with a rib injury.

The Broncos captain trained away from the main group on Tuesday morning, with Roberts filling in at halfback before his selection was confirmed later in the afternoon.

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Brisbane remain confident Reynolds’ injury is nothing major, but will take a cautious approach on their marquee man.

“Renno is just unlucky the poor fella,” Corey Oates told reporters.

“He’s all right, I don’t think it’s a real serious one, if he has a week off he can heal and be a lot better for it.

“I think they said he could play on with it … would you rather him re-injure and be out for eight weeks or have the rest and heal up?”

Roberts came off the bench for just eight minutes for Brisbane in round one, after not playing in the NRL at all in 2021.

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Before that, his most recent start in the halves came in round two of 2020 for Gold Coast, with the Titans loss to Parramatta the last game before the NRL’s unprecedented two-month shutdown.

“He’s been a class player for a long time, he’s done great in the training session just then,” Oates said.

“We’ve got a massive job on our hands against Melbourne, they’re going to be hard to beat but we’ve just got to do our jobs.”

Prop Payne Haas did not train with a shoulder complaint but was named to play alongside a returning Kurt Capewell.

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Meanwhile, Oates was quizzed on his State of Origin chances with Queensland needing to find a winger to replace the injured Xavier Coates for Game II.

The eight-time Maroons representative said he was unsure if coach Billy Slater would look for a younger option, not having played Origin since 2019.

“Coaches always have their preferences in players, I can only do what I can do,” he said.

“If that’s what they’re looking for then I could be a chance and if not then it’s not going to affect my performance on the weekend.”

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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