James Roberts (born 3 March 1993) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League. Roberts is a Country Origin and Indigenous All Stars representative. He plays at fullback, centre and wing and previously played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Penrith Panthers and Gold Coast Titans.
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Background
Born in Kempsey, New South Wales, Roberts is of Indigenous Australian descent and played his junior rugby league for Ballina Seagulls, before being signed by the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Roberts played for the Rabbitohs' NYC team from 2010 to 2012, scoring 28 tries in 26 matches.
Roberts is the nephew of former player Amos Roberts, the cousin of Gold Coast Titans player Tyrone Roberts and Hull Kingston Rovers player Albert Kelly, Anthony Mundine and South Sydney Rabbitohs player Greg Inglis.
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Playing career
2011
In Round 7 of the 2011 NRL season, Roberts made his NRL debut for the Rabbitohs against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at fullback in the 36-24 loss at ANZ Stadium. In Round 8 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Roberts scored his first NRL career try in the Rabbitohs 31-12 win at ANZ Stadium. Roberts was named on the wing in the 2011 NYC Team of the Year.
2012
On 25 July, Roberts was released by the Rabbitohs after breaches of his playing contract. He then signed a 2-year contract with the Penrith Panthers starting in 2013. Roberts didn't make an NRL appearance in 2012.
2013
In Round 11 of the 2013 NRL season, Roberts made his club debut for the Penrith Panthers against the St. George Illawarra Dragons off the interchange bench in the Panthers 19-0 win at Jubilee Oval. In Round 16 against the Dragons, Roberts scored his first club try for the Penrith Panthers in the 25-10 win at Penrith Stadium. In Round 17 against the Gold Coast Titans, Roberts scored a hat-trick of tries in a man of the match display in the Panthers 40-18 win at TIO Stadium in Darwin. On 6 October 2013, Roberts also participated in the 2013 Holden Cup Grand Final for the Panthers, against the New Zealand Warriors, contributing with two tries as the Panthers won 42-30. Roberts subsequently won the Jack Gibson Medal, awarded to the Man of the Match of the Holden Cup Grand Final. Roberts played in six matches and scored six tries for the Penrith Panthers in the 2013 NRL season.
2014
On 14 March 2014, Roberts was released from the Panthers for off field misbehaviour and later was "thrown a lifeline" when he was signed by the Gold Coast Titans for the 2014 NRL season on 31 March 2014. In Round 14 of the 2014 NRL season, Roberts made his club debut for the Gold Coast Titans against the Melbourne Storm at centre and scored a try in the Titans 24-20 loss at Cbus Super Stadium. Roberts finished off his first season at the Gold Coast Titans in the 2014 NRL season with him playing in 12 matches and scoring 5 tries. On 30 October 2014, Roberts was investigated by the NRL after he was arrested for public nuisance in Surfers Paradise.
2015
On 20 January, Roberts was named in the Titans 2015 NRL Auckland Nines squad. On 3 May, he played for New South Wales City against New South Wales Country at centre in the 34-22 loss. On 29 September, he was named the 2015 Dally M Centre of the Year. On 5 June, it was announced that he had re-signed with the Titans on a three-year contract, however it was later discovered that his manager had forged his signature onto the contract, ruling it null and void. This subsequently lead to Roberts requesting a release from the club. He finished off the 2015 season as the Titans' leading try-scorer with 16 tries in 24 matches. On 15 December, he was named on the interchange bench for the Indigenous All Stars team to play against the World All Stars on 13 February 2016. On 23 December 2015, Roberts signed a 2-year contract with the Brisbane Broncos starting from 2016.
2016
On 13 January, Roberts was named in the emerging New South Wales Blues squad. On 13 February, Roberts played for the Indigenous All Stars against the World All Stars, playing at centre in the 12-8 loss at Suncorp Stadium. In Round 1 of the 2016 NRL season, Roberts (who was celebrating his 23rd birthday) made his club debut for the Brisbane Broncos in the season opening match against the Parramatta Eels, playing at centre in the Broncos 17-4 win at Parramatta Stadium. In Round 4 against the North Queensland Cowboys in the Grand Final rematch, Roberts scored his first club try for the Brisbane Broncos in the 21-20 golden point extra time win at Suncorp Stadium. On 17 August 2016, Roberts was again in trouble over another drunken incident after he allegedly abused a female bartender at the Normanby Hotel near the Brisbane CBD, when he was asked to leave by security, he was reportedly acting aggressive towards them and they were forced to put him in a "Sleep Hold" to restrain him until he was unconscious and an ambulance was called but Roberts regained consciousness and allegedly went to another pub to continue drinking for the rest of the night. On 24 August 2016, Roberts received a $20,000 fine from the NRL but escaped suspension, instead being ordered to undergo a wellbeing plan which includes community service on his days off for his public nuisance. In the Broncos Week 1 Elimination Finals match against the Gold Coast Titans, Roberts was placed on report for kicking Ryan Simpkins when he got up from a tackle during the Broncos 44-28 win at Suncorp Stadium. Roberts was later found guilty of the contrary conduct charge and was suspended for the do-or-die Week 2 Semi Finals match against the North Queensland Cowboys where Broncos later lost 26-20 in Golden Point extra time, ending their season. Roberts finished the 2016 NRL season with him playing in 25 matches and scoring 9 tries in his first year with the Broncos. On 30 September 2016, Roberts checked himself in a rehabilitation facility in Thailand to help him overcome multifaceted personal issues, including a battle with alcohol that has almost derailed his NRL career.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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