Blues hooker Reece Robson will travel over 4000km more than he needed to before being called into camp for Game Two to spend just one day with his five-month-old daughter Hazel.
Recalled to the New South Wales squad for Game One as the Blues’ first-choice hooker was another significant step in Robson’s career but spending 10 days away from his family came as an added challenge for the 25-year-old after becoming a father in January.
And after helping his side to a dominant 34-16 victory over the Raiders in Canberra on Friday, the star hooker said despite committing to more time travelling than with his family over the weekend, it was worth it for a day with his daughter.
“I flew back on Saturday after the game. I’ve got a little one back at home so I went back and hung out with her and my partner and really didn’t give it a thought until the call came on Sunday arvo,” Robson told NRL.com.
“She’s only five months old so the Game One camp was by far the longest I’d spent away. Obviously we go away a lot for footy but it’s usually only for a couple of days so that was my first real stint away from her.
“They came down a couple of days early, which really helped, I kind of needed them to. You don’t realise how much you miss them until you’re away.
“So it definitely was tough but they came to the game so it was good to see them when they got down to Sydney.”
Reece Robson Try
Robson’s partner and daughter are not the only two he’ll be saying goodbye to until next Wednesday with the hooker once again parting ways with five of his Maroons teammates before they face off in Melbourne next Wednesday.
With teammates Valentine Holmes, Murray Taulagi, Tom Dearden, Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai all lining up again for Queensland in Game Two, Robson said it’s time again to ‘flick the switch’.
“Obviously playing with so many Queenslanders it’s funny flicking that switch, but it happens pretty quickly both ways,” he said.
“When I get into camp, it just switches and they’re just another person in a Maroon jersey but then when you get back here they’re one of your brothers again playing for the Cowboys.
“I think they’re pretty similar to the way they see it, whatever team you’re in when you’re back with the boys, it’s like nothing’s changed and then another week goes by and you’re in that Blues side hopefully and you hate them.
“You sort of miss that a little bit, that hate for Queensland, you definitely don’t get it much up north.
“So to get around a few of the boys that feel the same way is a really good experience.”
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The Murwillumbah junior said he is not only expecting time apart from his family to be easier the second time round this week but was also relieved to be saying goodbye to his teammates on the back of Friday’s big win.
“I don’t know what it is but getting a win into a bye round, it’s kind of a four-point game at the end of the day,” Robson said.
“It’s been a long start of the season, long slog up until this point so to get that win tonight and then a week off for all the boys to get those niggles right that have been hanging around for the last few weeks and freshen up the bodies is massive.”