'Concierge' Roberts says he can't afford to slip up at Titans

Tyrone Roberts has been opening doors as a hotel concierge this week but will soon turn his attention to bashing the door down at the Titans to claim a starting halves spot alongside close friend Ash Taylor.

Roberts, one of 31 Titans players working eight-hour days at Gold Coast businesses this week, played 23 Super League games as a starting halfback to take Warrington to the Super League grand final against Wigan and also played in the Challenge Cup decider against Catalan Dragons, losing both.

The 27-year-old secured a release from the final two years of his Warrington deal for family reasons to return to the Gold Coast where he played 41 NRL games in 2016 and 2017, mostly at five-eighth.

The former Newcastle Knight's goal is to secure the five-eighth position alongside Taylor but with young gun AJ Brimson, former Storm half Ryley Jacks and NSW Blues utility Tyrone Peachey also an option for coach Garth Brennan, there are no guarantees.

"I have got a lot of competition and I can’t slip up," Roberts said after taking a break from his duties on Wednesday at the QT Hotel in Surfers Paradise.

"I have to train hard and do everything that is asked of me.

"You’ve got to prove yourself and get better. You can’t just roll back into the same situation and not get any results. We have Ryley Jacks and a lot of talent coming through with AJ Brimson, who had a good crack, but if we all work together towards the same goal we will bring the best out of each other."

Roberts kept in touch with Taylor when he was overseas and can’t wait to reconnect. He finished the 2017 season at the Titans alongside Taylor in the halves but the duo only scratched the surface of what they are capable of achieving.

Roberts's stint in Super League unlocked the creative side of his play, a valuable addition to his rugby league nous and game management abilities which will help take the pressure off Taylor to be the main man.

"We want to build our relationship and get stronger and our goals are to make the semis and grand final," he said.

"I want to try and get the best out of Ash and get him where he needs to be.

"[Super League] is more free-flowing and there is not much structure so it is like going back to the backyard and doing what you grew up doing.

"We had a great season with a good bunch of lads over there in Warrington. We lost two grand finals and that was heartbreaking but now I’m ready to play for the Gold Coast Titans."

Roberts has been in rehab after tearing the ligaments under his big toe, an injury know as turf toe, but said he hoped to be back running next week after being told he will not require surgery.

He worked on a construction site in the off-season as a young footballer by choice with several former school mates, so his employment this week has taken him outside his comfort zone.

"It has been great," he said.

"I’m not usually behind a desk. I’m an outside person but it has been an eye-opener. I’ve been checking the rooms, greeting [guests] and seeing all the wonderful people who come into the QT."