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Ben Roberts is hitting his straps with the return of Parramatta club favourite Jarryd Hayne offering him and Chris Sandow plenty of support. Picture: Mark Evans Source: The Daily Telegraph
THE 13,158 fans who turned up at Parramatta Stadium last weekend were not the only ones to celebrate the return of club favourite Jarryd Hayne.
It seems teammate Ben Roberts took his game to a whole new level with The Hayne Train back on the rails and at his disposal.
After a shocking month in the blue and gold, Roberts hopes he can continue his on-field chemistry with Hayne and Chris Sandow on Sunday in Newcastle as the club tries to drag itself off the bottom of the NRL ladder.
One of the toughest and fittest players at the Eels, Roberts, 26, said of teaming up with excitement machine Hayne this weekend: "Jarryd is the kind of guy who can win a game on his own. Having him on the field is a huge relief and he takes the pressure of myself and Chris Sandow.
"Any team would benefit from Jarryd at the back, having his direction and loud calls.
"One of my strengths is my running game, and when Jarryd wants the ball I'm happy to be the runner."
Roberts certainly did run during Saturday night's 29-20 win over Manly as he chalked up the best statistics of his NRL career. The muscly No. 6 made 10 runs for 176m, and 10 tackle busts, including one which led to Hayne's second try.
Roberts this time last year was running around for the Bulldogs NSW Cup side. So it comes as no surprise he has no intentions of blowing his NRL second coming.
"The first four weeks were tough, there's a lot of expectation at Parramatta, and for myself I was most disappointed in my defence," Roberts said. "Over the years my defence has been one of my strengths. The first couple of games I was rusty, and it was something I've really worked on.
"As for Chrissy and I, we're both off-the-cuff players. A lot of people expected us to click overnight, and I think it's taken us a lot longer than we expected as well. We'll only get better with each week."
Ben Roberts - first four rounds:
Possessions: 30.5; Runs: 7 (55m); Kicks: 4.8 (122m); Tackles: 11; Missed tackles: 1.8; Tackle busts: 9; Linebreaks: 0
Round 5 against Manly: Possessions: 40; Runs: 10 (176m); Kicks: 7 (224m); Tackles: 12; Missed tackles: 1; Tackle busts: 10; Linebreaks: 3
MEANWHILE, Eels forward Shane Shackleton has not given up hope of pulling on the Parramatta jumper again this season.
Banished to NSW Cup side Wentworthville the first month, Shackleton did himself no favours when he labelled coach Kearney a "f...wit" on social media. Shackleton, in his final year with Parramatta, said the matter had quickly been put to bed, and did not believe it would hurt his NRL chances.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...tting-his-stride/story-e6frexnr-1226320632652
Missed tackles: 1.8;
But but but he is a bad defender. :crazy:
#Roberts>TrueEEL