THERE is more to come from Tyrone Roberts, said Wolves’ head coach Steve Price after Saturday’s victory over Wigan.

And that will be music to the ears of fans who made the Australian scrum half a landslide winner of Warrington Guardian’s man-of-the-match poll.

That shows the huge impression the former Gold Coast Titans orchestrator-in-chief made in the Challenge Cup quarter-final considering the outstanding performances of the other 16 players in the Wire ranks on a milestone occasion.

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Pictures, from the Wire v Wigan game, by Mike Boden

Roberts’ form has been growing, but it was the first time – even through that 10-match unbeaten run – that he has taken command of a game right from the start and never let up.

He did so with a magnificent kicking game, both short and long distance; by taking on the defensive line himself at times, by sticking to the game plan, by managing the players around him, by patiently building pressure, by being solid in defence, by wearing his heart on his sleeve.

Most importantly he was believable. You get the sense that his teammates are now fully understanding what he brings to the side, and the fans can see what he is offering alongside former England stand-off Kevin Brown who is having a fine time of things operating mostly on the left flank.

Warrington Guardian:

Such is the casual way of Roberts’ playing style and the time it has taken for him to settle in, some supporters have taken it as a sure sign of him not really wanting to be here and tagging him as ‘homesick.’

It is perhaps no coincidence that with warmer weather and firmer grounds that Roberts is coming to the fore, but also that he looks sharper from the games under his belt after knee trouble hampered his winter training.

At the weekend, he certainly looked as though all weight was off his shoulders.

Something noticeable too was the time and space Roberts had with the ball, both signs of a class act being close to the top of his game.

Warrington Guardian:

The highlight was the way his movement and use of Ben Murdoch-Masila as a foil led to Josh Charnley scoring the crucial third try on the stroke of half time.



 

That nicely leads to the point that any half-back’s best work will only rise to the surface if the pack is doing its job. Roberts was given a wonderful platform by all of his teammates on this occasion.

The best half-backs stamp their authority all over a game and do so on a consistent basis, which is the 27-year-old’s next challenge.

Just like one swallow does not make a summer, one dazzling performance against Wigan does not make a season.

But with the marquee number seven’s confidence clearly growing, along with the belief in him to deliver, there is good reason to feel encouraged that Roberts can finally be the talisman of Steve Price’s side.

Future opponents will be working on ways to try and shut down his influence in the weeks ahead and this is when we will see the true class of the man.

Backing up his Wigan performance against Castleford Tigers tomorrow is the next big test.