http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...s-quest-for-finals-glory-20150915-gjn496.html Robson knows he doesn't have the pizzazz of Johnathan Thurston - his opposite number in the Sharks' semi-final against the Cowboys - or can demand the same pay packet of a halfback like Mitchell Pearce, but he knows where he stands as an honest toiler who enjoys going under the radar.
"I'm not the flashiest halfback going around, but if I'm going out there and doing my stuff week in, week out, hopefully we'll get the wins," Robson said. "I'm pretty low key and I don't go out there looking for praise and I'm happy to be a part of this team."
The 33-year-old is off contract at the end of the year and will go into another elimination match with no guarantees of where his next first grade match will come. Robson, however, leads some important statistical categories of halfbacks whose teams still have a tilt at premiership glory.
The former Manly and Parramatta veteran has played the most games this season (25) but made the fewest errors (13). He has made the most tackles (415) and passes (951) than any other halfback, averaging 38 per game which is slightly less than Thurston.
The reason for Robson's lack of praise comes down to the number of try assists he makes. This year he has produced seven, which puts him 50th among all players.
Statistics aside, Robson will be doing his homework on Thurston and Michael Morgan - who boast a combined 77 try and line-break assists in the NRL this season.
As long as he can propel Cronulla another step closer to a grand final - it will be their first since the Super League final of 1997 - Robson doesn't mind the "battler" tag used by his teammates.
"There's a bit of running joke going around at the moment ... I think it's got to do with all the media attention I've been getting and [because there are] a few quotes tossed out there that I'm a battler and a bit of a tradesman," Robson said. "The boys are jumping on that. It's just a bit of a laugh."
Described by Barba as "one of the toughest guys in the side", coach Shane Flanagan is just as full of praise for his chief playmaker.
"He [Robson] is a different player to JT, but he's an important part of our team," Flanagan said. "He's not a superstar, but he's our communicator and gets all our field position and shapes right.
"They [halfbacks] are probably one of the highest paid players in most teams and Robbo has toiled along for 10 years. He's never been in the category of being a high-flying halfback, he's just been a real tradesman all the time.
"He's a key player for us and he's doing a great job for us this year ... he's got a real big job to do this weekend."
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