Some players in the NRL just aren’t blessed with good luck. Whether it’s injuries, suspension, form, bad luck can just strike a player down. Over the past two seasons, Robbie Rochow has been one of those players, struck down by luck. And in 2017, he’s ready to get back up.
Born and raised in Newcastle, Rochow departed his homeland in at the start of the 2009 season for the Melbourne Storm, earning his NRL debut mid-way through 2010. He would only play the single first-grade game that season, and only one game in 2011 before returning to Newcastle under new head coach Wayne Bennett.
The rise of Robbie Rochow began in Round 19 of the 2012 season, his first game for the Newcastle Knights. It would begin a streak for Rochow, playing every first-grade game for Newcastle between his first game for them and the final match of the 2014 season, 59 consecutive matches. 2014 also saw Rochow make his representative debut, earning his maiden Country jersey after long being touted for higher honours.
Unfortunately for the backrower, the following season saw a lot of changes for Rochow. Rick Stone was named as the new head coach for Newcastle, but more importantly, the introduction of injury to Rochow saw his slow downfall.
After just three matches, taking his consecutive match count to 62, a back injury ruled Rochow out for close to three months. In just his second match after returning from injury, a broken arm would end his season prematurely. Despite a positive start to 2016 with Rochow co-captaining Newcastle at the Auckland Nines, Rochow would re-break his arm just five weeks into the season. Returning to the field another three months later, the second-rower’s third game back for the Knights ended in a season-ending tear to his pec.
Rochow had well and truly fallen, in two years he went from rep player to rehab constantly. After playing 59 consecutive games between mid-2012 to the end of 2014, Rochow only played 13 matches in the following two seasons.
Signing a one-year contract with South Sydney, a fresh start is a must for Rochow. The single season deal allows him to prove that he’s not defined by injuries and that they’re behind now. Finding a spot in South’s forward pack is his first assignment. Despite being able to play prop, second-row and lock, Rochow will need a strong pre-season under his belt to earn a spot in coach Michael Maguire’s top 17.
The squad includes South Sydney’s most capped played John Sutton, three of the Burgess boys, Kyle Turner, Jason Clark and Dave Tyrrell, as well as 2016 debutants Zane Musgrove, Angus Crichton and Jack Gosiewski. If Rochow can sneak into the first-grade side, then he’s well on his way to redemption.
Rochow has begun pre-season with South Sydney, and will first look to stake his claim for first-grade at the Auckland Nines as well as the annual Charity Shield match against St George Illawarra in February.