Re: Tad O/T - Jason Robinson : Fri Aug 28, 2015 9:29 am  

Gotcha wrote:

Laughton had nothing to do with it. I was also part of the junior set up then, and Gareth Stephens was a miles better player, and that was all It was. Robinson wasn't as good as he thought he was then until someone got a hold of him, and his ego stunk.

He was nowhere near Stephens as a half-back, that's a certainty.

Credit to whoever at Wigan recognised that his ability in space meant they could make a world class winger out of him, and to Va'aiga Tuigamala for introducing him to religion and stabilising his home life and attitude.

Re: Tad O/T - Jason Robinson : Fri Aug 28, 2015 9:38 am  

I wonder what position Robinson would play now if he was a junior coming through? He'd probably be too small for the wing IMO. Full back would be my bet.

Re: Tad O/T - Jason Robinson : Fri Aug 28, 2015 9:42 am  

With regards to who was the best player between Stephens and Robinson is subjective.
I never saw Robinson play as a junior before he went to Wigan, so I am not in a position to comment.
However I was in the south Leeds area at that time having finished playing rugby at amateur level. Robinson was receiving rave notices from various people in the game.
Colin Cooper a great rugby league stalwart who was an ex Hunslet prop forward was involved in the hunslet juniors set up ,thought highly of Robinson. So much so he himself took him up to Leeds. No mean feat from somebody from Hunslet, his thinking his future would be better with a big club. No disrespect to Hunslet. To his surprise and many others he was turned away.
The person who took Robinson to Wigan along with Cooper was an ex Leeds scout. Wigan I gather were surprised that Leeds turned Robinson down.
The first time I saw Robinson play before he made into the Wigan first team, was in Perpignan. Around about 1992, the curtain raiser to the Great Britain France game was I believe Great Britain juniors or intermediates (not quite certain) I don't think he had been at Wigan that long.
My information rightly or wrongly that it was laughton who was instrumental in turning Robinson away.
As for robinsons behavior or ego I have no knowledge of that.
What I do know as a kind gesture Robinson gave Cooper an inscribed watch to thank him for his guidance. Colin treasured that highly.

Re: Tad O/T - Jason Robinson : Fri Aug 28, 2015 9:51 am  

Andy Gilder wrote:

He was nowhere near Stephens as a half-back, that's a certainty.

Credit to whoever at Wigan recognised that his ability in space meant they could make a world class winger out of him, and to Va'aiga Tuigamala for introducing him to religion and stabilising his home life and attitude.

Did you see both Robinson and Stephens play as juniors? .

Re: Tad O/T - Jason Robinson : Fri Aug 28, 2015 10:28 am  

I always thought that John Monie had a massive influence on Robinson.
I think that Monie moved him into his own home & he & his wife looked after him.
He certainly rewarded them with his contributions to Wigan's success.

Re: Tad O/T - Jason Robinson : Fri Aug 28, 2015 10:38 am  

Old Feller wrote:

I always thought that John Monie had a massive influence on Robinson.
I think that Monie moved him into his own home & he & his wife looked after him.
He certainly rewarded them with his contributions to Wigan's success.

I think that would be quite correct, Monie sorted out some of Wigan team who were giving away cheap penalties.
He made it very clear that they were letting the side down, making them defend more and burning up energy.
I always rated Monie as a coach and a man.

Re: Tad O/T - Jason Robinson : Fri Aug 28, 2015 11:11 am  

Gptcha,

If you were part of the set up back then could you let us have a list of other legendary players you rejected as not being up to it. I suspect it will be a long list to make up so after Wembley is fine.

If what you posted is true then it's an even worse failing on the coaches that they couldn't help an immature young lad realise his potential, unlike Wigan.

However, what I've heard is what is said above, it was a straight choice between Robinson and the son of the assistant coach and nepotism won out.

Re: Tad O/T - Jason Robinson : Fri Aug 28, 2015 11:24 am  

Charlie Sheen wrote:

I wonder what position Robinson would play now if he was a junior coming through? He'd probably be too small for the wing IMO. Full back would be my bet.

Yeah, Keiron Dixon is pretty close in terms of size. Outside chance someone would have turned him in to a hooker.

Re: Tad O/T - Jason Robinson : Fri Aug 28, 2015 11:32 am  

Always a threat from anywhere on the field with his pace off the mark especially his dummy half scoots. Best player in the world in the other code when he converted, even other converts like Rogers, Tuqiri and Saillor couldn't live with him. I couldn't comment on his attitude having never met him.

Re: Tad O/T - Jason Robinson : Fri Aug 28, 2015 12:58 pm  

Backwoodsman wrote:

Did you see both Robinson and Stephens play as juniors? .

Saw a fair bit of Robinson, didn't see much of Stephens in the flesh until he turned up at Leeds.

He was the more complete half-back of the two for definite. Robinson had all the physical attributes to be a good player, but he was never going to be a scrum-half in the way that scrum halves were expected to be back then - an organiser, a ball-player, a kicker. Stephens had the edge at that age in all those departments.

Had Robinson come along ten years later, when the likes of Rob Burrow had changed the perception to an extent of what a scrum-half could be, then maybe the outcome would have been different. Like I say, credit to whoever at Wigan recognised that Robinson's abilities could be used in other positions.