Quote BrianBradyHandOff="BrianBradyHandOff"I first came across Mark Roberts in an A tem game vs Wigan at Central Park. We were late and game had kcked off. The first I saw of the game was a young chap moving at a great rate of knots in the left centre position. He was absolutely flying, it was Mark Roberts. He was as fast as any centre playing the game and faster than some wingmen. He came from Oldham(I think). The only second row man who came close in terms of speed was Dick Huddart (a Cumbrian) who played for Saints but hespoiled his legend by emigrating to Australia at the peak of his career. Marks career started sliding when he started waking up in the middle of the night with an appetite he couldn't satify despite getting the chip pan on at 3am. He was diagnosed as having diabetes. Not long afterwards he signed for Halifax but he didn't play for them for long, a knee injury forced him to retire. He may have played centre for Halifax. He cerainly didn't play in the centre for Wire.'"
From memory, he "bust his knee" against Swinton in Sept 89(Keith Holden a couple of years earlier - same opponents, anyone). I remember watching his comeback game on a Friday night A-teamer.... he almost hobbled ONTO the pitch. Gutted. I don't think he played for us again.
Without looking back, someone earlier mentioned that today's equivalent in Liam Farrell. Couldn't agree more. I LOVE watching him, too. There was a game around covid time, where we were comfortably beating Wigan, with 20 minutes to go. He killed us, and we held on for a draw (I think)
Players like Roberts and Farrell are the reason I watch RL. I WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED. My "not getting" Waterhouse, I've mentioned on here many times. He was a BRUTE of a player for us, carrying 3 men over the line for a try on many an occasion. That was his forte. He'd also give 30+ tackles per match. But he never got the crowd excited. I preferred Louis Anderson, the years before. It takes all sorts to please many people.
P. S. I remember the diabetes story in relation to his Rugby career. That must've been tough. Accommodating that, alongside keeping his RL career,bearing in mind 30odd years o, how "food savvy" sports people are, now
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