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Message: [QUOTE="FaithinHook, post: 3030261, member: 8300"] [SIZE=26px][B]I always worry’: Phil Gould’s concern for troubled Broncos star James Roberts[/B][/SIZE] Phil Gould has expressed his concern for struggling Brisbane star James Roberts as speculation in regard to a Sydney return continues to grow. Reports that Roberts could be on his way back to South Sydney have intensified since the retirement of Greg Inglis and there have been rumblings that the speedster is unhappy under the tutelage of new Broncos coach Anthony Seibold and would prefer to be mentored by Wayne Bennett. Bennett has denied making any recent contact with Roberts as the club considers how they will fill the void left by Inglis. Roberts, a cousin of Inglis, began his career at the Rabbitohs but was booted from there and Penrith — while Gould was general manager of football — before being granted a release from the Gold Coast to join the Broncos in 2016. He reached top gear at Red Hill last season and helped NSW to an Origin series win but has struggled with achilles and back complaints this season and has now been dropped, replaced by Kotoni Staggs. “I always worry about James. I’m always thinking about him,” Gould told the [I]Six Tackles with Gus[/I] podcast. “In his time at Panthers, our Indigenous development manager there – Glen Liddiard – is very close to James. Because when James was with us, he spent a lot of time looking after him and his family, and extended family. “Glen has kept in very close contact with James. He really treats him like a son. “My mail was that he wasn’t keen to return to Sydney. That he knew himself that would be too much of a temptation and a distraction for him. That there are certain aspects of his life that have really improved by getting out of Sydney, whether it be the Gold Coast or Brisbane; obviously Wayne Bennett was a big influence on him up there.” Gould’s comments come after Broncos director Darren Lockyer revealed the reasoning behind Roberts' dumping. “He had the Achilles injury a few weeks ago and at the same time there was a message there to get his attitude a bit better,” Lockyer told [I]WWOS[/I]. “The team was well beaten (against Souths) but I think there was some signs there that the ‘Jet’ needs to find that attitude to play consistently well in first grade each week. It’s up to him how he reacts to this.” There were recent off-field worries for Roberts when he was photographed drunk being carried out of a party following the side’s Round 3 loss to St George Illawarra. Roberts avoided a sanction with the club saying they were sticking by the incumbent NSW centre and were committed to helping him through his well-documented battle with alcohol. “He has been into rehab a couple of times. He goes over to a special place over in Thailand I think, self-admits himself over there,” Gould said. “He’s got a partner now, he’s got a baby (two). His life had improved in a lot of ways. But still … it’s a terrible thing, addiction. It’s an illness, and he battles with it.” [URL unfurl="true"]https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/rugby-league/i-always-worry-phil-goulds-concern-for-troubled-broncos-star-james-roberts-ng-690a1d5c548d8437b4fa0128ba57a410[/URL] [/QUOTE]

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