Re: Social Media - 'Best pack ever' : Tue Mar 28, 2023 6:13 pm  

lefty goldblatt wrote:

I don't think I've ever read so much attention seeking hogwash in my life.
You don't rate him. That's fair enough. Opinions are like anuses. We've all got them. Some of them stink.

But to make up stories about him playing centre is the hogwash bit.
Last year, I moved house, and have moved a lot of "junk" into my spare room. I've just looked at my old programmes (which are in a box, in chronological order). I've scanned 30-40 off them
Have a guess how many times Roberts was named centre from 84/5 to his sad demise 89/90.....that's right. ZERO.
Our centres in the early part of his (Roberts)career were the Duane bros, Cullen, Bevan, Younane, Forster.
You must be thinking of someone else.

Love it.

Re: Social Media - 'Best pack ever' : Tue Mar 28, 2023 6:45 pm  

Dita's Slot Meter wrote:

Christ, I've just noticed he put Cullen in that list. He's definitely taking the p!$s, isn't he?

And Anderson (Louie I presume, but who knows at this stage).

I think he's thinking of Mark Thomas. Who also didn't play centre but who was certainly worse than most on that list. Wembley 1990 semi notwithstanding.

Or maybe he's just barking.

Re: Social Media - 'Best pack ever' : Tue Mar 28, 2023 7:00 pm  

According the rugbyleagueproject.org

Roberts played 10 times at centre, all of which were in the last 12 games of his career.

Seven times in 1989, three times in 1990.

Almost always at second row, especially in his pomp.

Re: Social Media - 'Best pack ever' : Tue Mar 28, 2023 7:15 pm  

Jack Napier wrote:

According the rugbyleagueproject.org

Roberts played 10 times at centre, all of which were in the last 12 games of his career.

Seven times in 1989, three times in 1990.

Almost always at second row, especially in his pomp.

And by that time he was pretty much shot from injuries. So to say he was better at centre seems like a pretty bold claim...

Re: Social Media - 'Best pack ever' : Tue Mar 28, 2023 7:44 pm  

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.

Re: Social Media - 'Best pack ever' : Tue Mar 28, 2023 8:55 pm  

BrianBradyHandOff wrote:

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

Re: Social Media - 'Best pack ever' : Tue Mar 28, 2023 9:04 pm  

Moe syslak wrote:

My all time wire pack(of players I've seen)would be made up of players from 87(boyd, Roberts, Gregory)and 2011(morley, monaghan and Westwood).

I'd trade your Monaghan, for a prime Duane Mann, Moe
That pack would be pornography

Re: Social Media - 'Best pack ever' : Tue Mar 28, 2023 9:30 pm  

lefty goldblatt wrote:

I'd trade your Monaghan, for a prime Duane Mann, Moe
That pack would be pornography

Well we all play with 2 hookers nowadays so there's a place for them both! Duane Mann was way ahead of his time, would've been unstoppable in today's game.

Re: Social Media - 'Best pack ever' : Tue Mar 28, 2023 9:35 pm  

Moe syslak wrote:

Well we all play with 2 hookers nowadays so there's a place for them both! Duane Mann was way ahead of his time, would've been unstoppable in today's game.

Does Clarke get a place ahead of someone in the Monaghan/Mann rotation?

Re: Social Media - 'Best pack ever' : Tue Mar 28, 2023 9:38 pm  

Dita's Slot Meter wrote:

And by that time he was pretty much shot from injuries. So to say he was better at centre seems like a pretty bold claim...

I didn’t say he was a better centre.