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The Canberra Raiders have put aside three weeks of hell to slay the St George Illawarra Dragons 30-17 in Sunday night football.
With Reece Robinson returning to 2012 form, the Raiders are now asking ‘Josh who?’.
It was not a perfect performance or anything coach David Furner can get too excited about just yet. But the Raiders will take any kind of victory and they now leave the hapless Saints winless after three rounds.
Canberra made a stand prior to round two and sacked troubled fullback Josh Dugan. Many thought the Raiders would fire up against the Gold Coast last weekend. But it never happened.
The resurrection might have been a week late, but the Raiders are finally smiling again and it is all because of their new star fullback in Robinson.
The stylish custodian was involved in everything for the home side at Canberra Stadium and finished the match with a brace of tries.
The icing on the cake was a slashing break late in the piece to set up his centre Jarrod Croker.
He may have come via Brisbane and the North Sydney Bears, but Robinson has now finally found a home in Canberra.
The utility back has been a mainstay of the Raiders backline since debuting for the club three years ago. It may have took him some time to settle in, but now the fans and his colleagues are seeing what the classy kid can do.
Dugan missed plenty of season 2012 through injury, but was barely missed as Robinson helped guide Canberra to the second week of the playoffs. In 24 appearances last season, the talented fullback crossed for 17 tries.
The majority of them came when Dugan was missing.
A hat trick of tries against the NRL All Stars in February can’t be ignored. He has proved he can excel against the very best in the game. Robinson has all the tools to step up to the representative arena.
Which begs the question, is the silky number one a bolter for the New South Wales Blues?
Akuila Uate’s early season form suggests the Fijian flyer may secure one wing spot.
If the side was picked today, of course.
But with Brett Morris’ Dragons on skid row and Jarryd Hayne struggling at the Parramatta Eels, the other spot is certainly up for grabs.
Michael Gordon and Nathan Merritt have both started well for their respective clubs, but it is nothing to what Robinson has been producing on a weekly basis for the past twelve months.
Fullback for the Blues isn’t a certainty either.
If Robinson can continue the form that has made him a cult hero in the nation’s capital, who’s to say the he won’t pull on the famous sky blue jersey?
He’s safe under the high ball, has speed to burn and has that finishing quality that all great players possess.
If Blues coach Laurie Daley is looking for that fresh spark, Robinson is his man.
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