Roberts not expected to hit top gear just yet
Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues Damien Cook has welcomed the return of James Roberts to training at South Sydney but is not expecting the Rabbitohs speedster to line up against the Sydney Roosters at Bankwest Stadium on Friday night.
Roberts reunited with his teammates on Saturday after taking some time out for personal reasons and was named in an extended squad when the team lists were released today for the resumption of the NRL competition on Thursday.
“It was an awesome feeling (first seeing Roberts),” Cook told foxsports.com.au.
“He had a big smile on his face, I think he was happy to be back around the boys and he took the time that was needed.
“Him just getting the ball back into his hands and actually playing some footy which is what he loves and what he needs is that structure. He likes day-in-day-out training and being around the boys is obviously a big help for him.
“He looked very happy to be back and ready to go.”
Roberts hasn’t trained with the team for the past three weeks and Cook said he didn’t expect coach Wayne Bennett to throw him in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of facing the Roosters first up.
“In terms of playing against the Roosters, I don’t think so,” Cook said.
“I don’t think Wayne will (play him), and we’re not expecting him to go under that pressure and be ready to go straight away. We’re happy for him to take a couple of weeks or a week or so, whatever it is to get right.
“If he’s right to go and says, ‘I really want to play,’ then that’s up to Wayne to make that decision but we’re definitely not putting any pressure on him to come back early.
“Whenever he’s ready we’ll happily have him straight back into the side, he’s an unbelievable talent.”