Michael Robertson (rugby league)

Michael Robertson (born 14 April 1983) is a former Scotland international rugby league footballer. His usual position was on the wing but he could also play as a fullback with equal ability. He played for the London Broncos in the Super League, and the Canberra Raiders and Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL. He was considered a player with natural pace and try scoring ability.

Michael Robertson
Personal information
Full nameMichael Robertson
Born (1983-04-14) 14 April 1983
Wellington, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight88 kg (13 st 12 lb)
PositionWing, Fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2001–05 Canberra Raiders 59 15 0 0 60
2006–11 Manly-Warringah 150 68 2 0 276
2012–13 London Broncos 41 18 0 0 72
Total 250 101 2 0 408
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2008 Scotland 3 1 0 0 4
2010 Country Origin 1 1 0 0 4
Source: [1][2][3]

Background

Robertson was born in Wellington, New South Wales, Australia.

Playing career

Robertson played junior football with Valley Dragons in the ACT, and was graded to the Canberra Raiders, making his first-grade début in 2001 against the North Queensland Cowboys.[4]

Robertson in action for the Sea Eagles

After signing to play for the Manly Sea Eagles from the start of the 2006 NRL season, Robertson cemented his spot on the left win for Manly and played in the 2007 NRL grand final defeat by the Melbourne Storm.[5]

He scored 3 tries in the Sea Eagles record breaking 40-0 2008 NRL Grand Final victory over Melbourne, becoming the first player to score 3 tries in an Australian Grand Final since Steve Renouf did so for the Brisbane Broncos in the 1997 Super League Grand Final.[6] He would then go on to play in Manly's 28-20 win over English Super League champions the Leeds Rhinos in the 2009 World Club Challenge played at Elland Road in Leeds.

Normally a left side winger, suspension and injuries to Brett Stewart saw Robertson play most of the 2009 NRL season at fullback for the Sea Eagles. When Stewart suffered a season ending knee injury in Round 1 of the 2010 season against the Wests Tigers, it was expected that coach Des Hasler would move Robertson to fullback for the season. However, the pre-season signing of former North Queensland Cowboys utility back Ben Farrar allowed Hasler to keep Robbo in his referred wing position and play Farrar at fullback.

After débuting for the Sea Eagles in round 2, 2006 Robertson played in 139 consecutive club games until suffering a knee injury in a two try performance against the Gold Coast Titans in round 10 of the 2011 season. The injury was expected to keep Robertson out only for a single game, but he ended up missing three games. He returned to the Sea Eagles lineup in Manly's 22-18 win over Parramatta at Brookvale Oval[7]

Towards the end of the 2011 NRL home and away season, Robertson announced that he would be leaving Manly after six years with the club. Robertson would fulfill a long held ambition to play in England when he would join the Super League club the London Broncos in 2012. Until then Robertson had vowed he would take his place on the wing with Manly in a bid to win his second NRL premiership with the Sea Eagles,[8] which they achieved by taking out the 2011 NRL Grand Final over the New Zealand Warriors 24-10.

Robertson's last play for the Sea Eagles was a goal kick after the final siren of the 2011 Grand Final converting captain Jamie Lyon's try giving the departing winger a perfect 2/2 goal kicking record in the NRL (having also kicked a goal in Manly's 42-8 win over North Queensland 3 weeks earlier in the Qualifying Final) to go along with his 83 tries from 209 first grade appearances for Canberra and Manly.

Super League

Robertson made his first appearance on the wing for the London Broncos on 14 February 2012. He scored a try on début in a 24-34 loss to St. Helens at the Stoop Stadium in London. Robertson signed a 2-year deal midway through the 2012 season. In total, Robertson made 41 appearances for London scoring 18 tries.[9]

Representative career

Due to his Scottish heritage, Robertson made himself available for Scotland's 2008 Rugby League World Cup campaign.[10][11][12] Robertson was named in the Scotland squad for the World Cup and played all three of their games at fullback, scoring a try in the teams 18-16 win over Fiji at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford.[13]

Robertson's good form to start the 2010 NRL season scoring 7 tries in 8 games in his preferred position of wing was rewarded with selection for Country Origin in the annual City vs Country Origin match in Port Macquarie. Robertson, who is normally a left winger for the Sea Eagles, played on the right wing and scored a try in Country's 36-18 win over City.

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References
  1. "Players". Love Rugby League.
  2. "Michael Robertson - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
  3. "Page Not Found - Herald Sun".
  4. Barry Hildebrandt (28 September 2008). "Big day for Robertson". Wellington Times. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  5. "Factfile on 2007 grand final". The Daily Telegraph. 29 September 2008.
  6. "Grand final: As it happened". Fox Sports. 5 October 2008. Archived from the original on 4 December 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
  7. http://www.nrl.com/injury-ends-robbos-streak,-stewart-back/tabid/10874/newsid/62938/default.aspx
  8. Michael Robertson to join Harlequins in 2012 Archived 2 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  9. "Michael Robertson". Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  10. "Robertson ready for Scotland". Sportinglife. 30 May 2008. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  11. "Robertson set for kilt call-up". Fox Sports. 30 May 2008. Archived from the original on 6 December 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  12. "Aussie stars join Scotland". Sky Sports. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  13. "Logan back in Scotland cup squad". BBC. 8 October 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
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