Oliver Roberts is determined to make sure the delayed start to his Huddersfield Giants career was well worth the wait.
The 20-year-old back-row forward finally made his claret and gold debut in the impressive 38-6 pre-season triumph over Hull KR in January – 14 months after his arrival from Bradford Bulls.
He followed it up with a strong showing in the 26-16 home trial success over Catalans Dragons – before leaving the field after suffering a head knock – and he let nobody down with his first Giants’ Super League appearances in the 30-16 opening-night loss at St Helens and Friday’s 18-13 home loss to Wigan Warriors.
Those early-season displays have added to the confidence he was already feeling following his impressive performances for Ireland in last autumn’s European Championship clashes against Scotland, Wales and France.
And with the Giants suffering their current injury crisis, Roberts is aiming to take full advantage of his teammates’ misfortunes and look to cement a regular place in this season’s first-choice 17.
“I’m gutted for the boys who are injured and the fact it’s made the start to our season a lot tougher than it could have been,” said the Halifax-born Roberts, who made six senior appearance during his time at the Bulls.
“But, from a selfish point of view, this is the opening I’ve been waiting for over the past 12 months.
See pictures from Huddersfield Giants 13-18 Wigan Warriors below
“It was a case last season that we had a set of forwards who were fit for most of the year, and that’s why there just wasn’t an opening for me, which I fully understood. “It’s been the complete opposite this time around, and that’s why I’ve got this chance – and I absolutely love it!
“This is my chance to prove to Paul Anderson that he can trust me and won’t let the side down. I want him to know that when he gives me the nod, I‘m ready to go.”
Roberts wasted little time proving his potential, scoring his first Giants try within five minutes of his debut in the warm-up win over the Robins.
And he admits it was the dream start.
“After waiting so long to make my Giants debut, there were a few nerves when I first got out there,” he added. “There’s nothing better to get rid of those nerves than by scoring a try, and to do that after just five minutes was fantastic.
“It helped me settle down and get straight on with my job, which I’d like to think I did pretty well.
“I just hope that can go on to be a taste of things to come.”
