Roberts form no surprise for Mac (From The Bolton News)

Roberts form no surprise for Mac

7:00am Friday 19th February 2010 in

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RUGBY LEAGUE: If Amos Roberts’s blistering form has surprised many at the DW Stadium, then Michael Maguire is not one of them.

The rejuvenated Wigan winger, a prolific try-scorer Down Under, struggled in his first season in Super League after joining from Sydney Roosters.

After scoring 106 tries in 177 games in NRL, the Aussie flyer managed just 11 last year after Brian Noble brought him to the club on a four-year deal.

But under new coach and fellow countryman Maguire, Roberts has been revelation, crossing twice in each of Wigan’s opening two victories and looking a totally different player.

While the 29-year-old’s transformation has stunned some Warriors fans, Maguire expected nothing less.

And he has no qualms about switching Roberts to full-back in place of the injured Cameron Phelps for Saturday’s eagerly-awaited clash with Warrington. “I’ve known Amos for quite sometime,” said Maguire, the former Melbourne Storm assistant. “I was lucky enough to work with him back in Australia and at Country Representative level.

“He’s performed well this season and did very well back in Australia, so it’s just a matter of him producing that form week-in week-out.

“Amos has played quite a bit at full-back in Australia so it’s not an unfamiliar position for him.

“He tends to get around the ball a fair bit and is quite excited about playing at full-back where he can buzz around anywhere on the park.

“It’s a role I like him doing and hopefully he can get his hands on the ball on Saturday night.”

Maguire, meanwhile, has opened the door for a future move for Melbourne’s exciting youngster Gareth Widdop.

The Halifax-born full-back has been named in the Storm’s squad for next week’s World Club Challenge showdown with Leeds Rhinos.

The 20-year-old, who emigrated with his family four years ago, is understudy to Kangaroo full-back Billy Slater.

But Maguire believes he has potential to be a star — and possibly at Wigan. “He’s got a bit of the X factor about him,” said the Warriors boss. “He’s quick and very comfortable under a high ball. “He’s an Englishman so he’d like to come over here and play. As a kid, I think he’s spent some time around Wigan so I’d like to see him come back with us at some stage.”