The South Sydney Rabbitohs have decided to sack a rookie before he was set to begin pre-season training with the team following a drug supply charge.
The younger brother of former NSW Blues and NRL centre James Roberts, Michael Roberts was set to train with the Rabbitohs in the pre-season after previously being involved in The Dolphins system.
However, the club confirmed that he would no longer be joining the club after he was refused police bail on a pre-existing drug supply charge relating to cocaine on Sunday after he was convicted of indictable drug supply and participating in a criminal group, perย The Daily Telegraph.
It is understood that he intends to fight the charges and will appear at Ballina Local Court on November 20.
โThe South Sydney Rabbitohs have been made aware of an issue with Michael Roberts,โ the spokesman told the publication.
โMichael did not start training with the club this week and will not be joining the club.โ
A talented youngster, Roberts was signed toย The Dolphinsย at the end of 2021 alongsideย Harrison Grahamย andย Valynce Te Whareย but left after only one season with the club.
More recently, he featured for the Evans Head Bombers in the Northern Rivers Regionalย Rugby Leagueย (NRRRL) competition.
A graduate of the famed Palm Beach-Currumbin High School, Roberts was a standout in his junior years.
This saw him score the match-winning try of the 2021 southern-Queensland final of theย NRLย Schoolboy Cup, and become an Australian Schoolboy.
He was also named inย Brad Fittler's Juniorย Bluesย squad in the past, alongside the likes ofย Blaize Talagi,ย Samuela Fainuย andย Ethan Sanders.
โThroughout the investigation, police monitored and recorded (Michael) participating in the following supplies of cocaine with the co-accused person,โ police allege in the document," a police document read viaย The Daily Telegraphย detailing Roberts' alleged involvement.
โPolice will assert (Michael) and (Bolt) used phones to conduct and arrange the drug transactions.โ
