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Ian Roberts (rugby league)

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Ian Roberts
Personal information
Born (1965-07-31) 31 July 1965 (age 59)
London, England
Playing information
Height196 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight112 kg (17 st 9 lb)
PositionProp, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1986–89 South Sydney 65 5 0 0 20
1986–87 Wigan 19 3 0 0 12
1990–95 Manly Sea Eagles 100 4 0 0 16
1997–98 North Qld Cowboys 29 3 0 0 12
Total 213 15 0 0 60
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1988–94 City NSW 5 0 0 0 0
1990–94 New South Wales 9 0 0 0 0
1990–94 Australia 13 3 0 0 12
1997 New South Wales (SL) 2 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]

Ian Roberts (born 31 July 1965) is an Australian actor and former professional rugby league player who played in the 1980s and 1990s. A forward, he played for New South Wales in State of Origin and won 13 caps for the Australia national team. He played club football for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Wigan, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and North Queensland Cowboys. In 1995 Roberts became the first high-profile Australian sports person and first rugby footballer in the world to come out to the public as gay.[2]

Early life

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Ian Roberts was born in 1965 in Chelsea, London, England,[3] to a father who worked in construction and was an amateur boxer, and a housewife mother. The family emigrated as Ten Pound Poms in 1967 to South Sydney, Australia, where the family was guaranteed a new house, and his father was guaranteed a job, continuing to work in construction. He was educated at Maroubra Bay High School.[4]

Football career

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Club career

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As a junior Roberts played for the Mascot Jets in the Souths juniors competition.[3] He made his first grade début with the Rabbitohs in the 1986 Winfield Cup season and his form early on saw him touted as a bolter for the 1986 Kangaroo Tour, though ultimately he would miss selection.[3]

At the end of the 1986 Sydney season, Roberts began a short stint with English club Wigan. In his first appearance for the Cherry and Whites on 1 October against St. Helens at Central Park, Roberts came on after 8 minutes as a replacement and made an astonishing 59 tackles as the home side won their 1986 Lancashire Cup semi-final 22–16. Two weeks later he played for Wigan against the Australian Kangaroos for the opening game of the 1986 Kangaroo Tour which Australia won 26–18. He played second row in Wigan's 15–8 victory over Oldham in the Lancashire County Cup Final at Knowsley Road in St. Helens, on Sunday 19 October 1986.[5] and played in Wigan's 18–4 victory over Warrington in the 1986–87 John Player Special Trophy Final at Burnden Park in Bolton on Saturday 10 January 1987.[6]

By the age of 21, Jack Gibson had described him as "the best front rower in the game",[7] and in 1988 Roberts made the first of five appearances for the City Origin team.[8]

Roberts signed a contract with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in 1990, and later said that the main reason he left South Sydney was the money, the Manly contract worth around AU$100,000 more.[9]

He quickly justified his value with State of Origin selection and a Test début against New Zealand. At the end of the 1994 NSWRL season, he went on the 1994 Kangaroo tour. Leading up front in Australia's Ashes-winning 23-4 Third Test victory at Elland Road. Not long after, Roberts signed with Super League despite his club and coach Bob Fulton remaining loyal to the Australian Rugby League. He played in Manly's upset loss to Canterbury in the 1995 ARL season's Grand Final.[10]

Roberts sat out the 1996 season due to injuries and a contract dispute related to the Super League war. As a result, Roberts missed out on playing in Manly's 1996 ARL Grand Final victory over St. George. In 1997, Roberts signed with the North Queensland Cowboys and captained the side. His career wound down in 1998 under the increasing weight of injuries.[11]

State of Origin

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Roberts made nine appearances for the New South Wales State of Origin team between 1990 and 1994. The Blues won six of the nine matches in which Roberts played.[citation needed]

Post-playing

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In 2000, Roberts was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league. He served on the National Rugby League's judiciary during the 2000s[12] and in 2004 was named by Souths in their South Sydney Dream Team,[13] which consists of 17 players and a coach representing the club from 1908 through to 2004. In 2005, he was named one of the 25 greatest ever New South Wales players.[14] In March 2014, Roberts revealed that he has brain damage after being knocked out up to a dozen times in his playing career.[15]

Life outside football

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Roberts came out as gay in 1995, becoming the first rugby league player in the world to do so. He discussed his sexuality in magazines and on television over the following year. The NRL Footy Show principals Paul Vautin, Peter Sterling and Steve Roach appeared in a poster campaign against homophobia conducted by the Lesbian and Gay Anti-Violence Project. He was praised for helping to question prevailing myths about gays and sport. Paul Freeman wrote a book on Roberts, Ian Roberts – Finding Out, which was published in 1997.[16]

In 1999 Roberts was taken to court by Garry Jack over an on-field brawl that occurred in 1991.[17] Jack stated he was taking a stand against a beating he received from several Manly players. He attempted to sue Roberts for $100,000 in damages, alleging he suffered shock, traumatic injuries to his face and eyes, cuts, headaches and numbness, and was embarrassed by scarring to his face. Jack and Roberts eventually settled the dispute out of court with Roberts handing over more than $50,000.[citation needed]

Roberts has stated he is a sex abuse victim,[18] and gave evidence to the State Coroner of New South Wales in regard to the murder of Arron Light, a teenage boy who was set to give evidence against a paedophile syndicate. Light disappeared in 1997, and his remains were recovered in 2002. Roberts accused the same man who molested him in his teens of being behind Light's death.[18] This story was the subject of an episode of the Australian TV program Australian Story, entitled "The Lost Boy", which first aired on 26 September 2005.[citation needed]

Early in 2005, Roberts appeared in the second series of the Australian television series Dancing with the Stars, dancing with Natalie Lowe. He was runner up in the competition, losing out to Tom Williams.[citation needed]

Roberts appeared on the 17 July 2007 cover of The Advocate magazine in an exclusive interview with Canadian author and journalist Michael Rowe, along with a photo layout by celebrity photographer Eric Schwabel.[19][citation needed]

In September 2010, Roberts publicly criticised Australian swimming star Stephanie Rice for calling the South African rugby union team "faggots" on Twitter, branding her "a complete idiot".[20]

A member of the Australian Labor Party, Roberts has twice stood unsuccessfully as an ALP candidate for the Council of the City of Sydney in 2016 and 2021.[21][22]

Ian Roberts is a director and co-founder of Qtopia Sydney, an Australian museum of LGBTQ history and culture which opened in February 2024.[23]

Acting career

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Roberts finished playing professional rugby league in 1998, and began studying at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney. In 2003 he moved to the United States in search of acting opportunities.[24]

Roberts made a very brief cameo in the 2002 film Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones as a bartender working in the Outlander Club where Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker apprehend the bounty hunter Zam Wesell. In 2005, Roberts had a brief cameo in the Australian film Little Fish, starring Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving, playing an ex-rugby league star. He appeared in the 2006 motion picture Superman Returns as Riley, a henchman of Lex Luthor.[25]

In 2009, Roberts appeared in the Australian television mini-series Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities, which retells real life events of the drug trade in the New South Wales town of Griffith between 1976 and 1987. The mini-series is a prequel to the 2008 mini-series Underbelly, which was about Melbourne gangland killings. Roberts has a role as a body guard for George Freeman (played by Peter O'Brien). The series began airing in NSW on 9 February 2009. Also in 2009, he starred in The Cut on ABC1 and had a small role in the film Cedar Boys. In 2012 Ian landed his first starring role in the film Saltwater, starring opposite Ronnie Kerr, which is also Ian's first role playing a gay man.[26]

In 2016 he appeared in Craig Boreham's gay-themed film Teenage Kicks, playing a straight single father.[27] In 2021 Roberts appeared in episode 1, series 3 of Mr Inbetween playing small-time arms dealer, Graham.[28] In 2022 he appeared in Boreham's followup film Lonesome.[29]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones Ganwick Trag (uncredited)
2003 Room 14 The Monster Short film
2005 Transient Narrator Short film
Crooked Mick of the Speewah Crooked Mick Short film
Little Fish Marty
2006 Superman Returns Riley
Darklovestory Bruder
2009 Cedar Boys Bell room door man
2010 Genesys Hired agent Short film
2011 Mug's Game Shad Newbolt Short film
2012 Celebrity Sex Tape Bronco
Celestial Guard Cain Short film
Vendetta Thug #1 Short film
Saltwater Josh
The Vanisher CAPRI
Killjoy Goes to Hell Bailiff
Puppet Master X: Axis Rising SS Soldier #1
Chester Briggins' Magic Blood Brother Mayweather Short film
The Undercard Ian Short film
Hate Crime Three
Pause Bearclaw
Gallic Massive guard Short film
Sleep Attack Darwin Short film
2013 Quarantine L.A. Zombie
The Big Lug Harvey Short film
Genesis Richard Hawkins Short film
13/13/13 Staircase Crazy #2
The Fall Malek Short film
My So Called Family Sheldon Short film
Towers of Terror Brian
MANipulation Part 1 Troy Short film
Absent Bliss Warren Short film
2014 Android Cop Hawk Eye
P-51 Dragon Fighter Anak
Turkey Shoot Haakon
Denied and Betrayed Arms Dealer Short film
The Houses October Built Feaster Bunny
Mile Marker Seven Christian
My Christmas Wish Zack Short film
Rise Rymer Britton Short film
Hard Right Winslow Harris Short film
2016 13 Days Monster
Teenage Kicks Jack O'Connel
The Osiris Child: Science Fiction Volume One Nimal
2017 Aggregate Harry
Adrenochrome Brutus
Baby Boy Coach Gibson Short film
2020 Fantasy Island Dr. Torture
False Colors Hotel assassin
2022 Lonesome Pietro
Unreported Jack
2024 Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Mr. Harley

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 White Collar Blue Frank Gambino Episode: Episode 2.14
2006 Blue Heelers Wayne Rhodes Episode: "What's Love Got to Do with It"
2008 Kiss Me Deadly Fredrick Television film
BoysTown Bar manager Episode: "Visitors"
2009 Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities Barry 9 episodes
The Cut Sports beat anchor 4 episodes
Sea Patrol Nathan Talbot Episode: "Red Sky Morning"
2012 Wonder Girls Security guard Television film
2012–13 La Verdad: Beginnings Lazarus Web series; 8 episodes
2012 Vendetta Thug #1 Web series; episode: "V101: Pilot"
2013 Game Over Bodyguard #1 Episode: "Sniper"
My Life as a Video Game Sarge Web series; 4 episodes
2014 Project: Phoenix Agent Holden Web series
2016 Soul Mates Thutmose 4 episodes
2018 Black Comedy Guest cast Episode: Episode 3.6
2019 Les Norton Danny "Foghorn" McCormack 5 episodes
2021 Mr Inbetween Graham Episode: "Coulda Shoulda"
2023 The Adventures of the West Bros. Giant scout 2 episodes

References

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  1. ^ Rugby League Project
  2. ^ Peter, O'Shea (3 October 1995). "Out of the field". The Advocate. Here Publishing. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  3. ^ a b c Skene, Patrick (17 August 2015). "The courageous journey of Ian Roberts, rugby league's first openly gay player". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  4. ^ "The courageous journey of Ian Roberts, rugby league's first openly gay player | Patrick Skene". TheGuardian.com. 17 August 2015.
  5. ^ "1986–1987 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  6. ^ "1986–1987 John Player Special Trophy Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  7. ^ Tim Bauer. "Atonement". Good Weekend (30 January 2010). Pyrmont, NSW: Fairfax Media: 17.
  8. ^ "Ian Roberts". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  9. ^ On the Couch with Sterlo - Ian Roberts One on One
  10. ^ "ARL 1995 - Grand Final - Sydney Bulldogs 17 def. Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 4 - RLP". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Legend Q&A: Ian Roberts". www.nrl.com. 11 April 2020.
  12. ^ Ritchie, Dean (19 September 2007). "Cowboys want ex-Manly players off judiciary". The Daily Telegraph. Australia: News Limited. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  13. ^ South Sydney Dream Team Archived 14 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine from the official South Sydney website.
  14. ^ "Origin's 25 greatest named". Sydney Morning Herald. 30 March 2005. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  15. ^ Brad Walter (9 March 2014). "Ian Roberts says he has brain damage". "Sydney Morning Herald". Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  16. ^ Paul Freeman (1997) Ian Roberts – Finding Out, Random House Australia ISBN 978-0-09183-336-7
  17. ^ Erin Tennant (3 September 2008). "League player charged over on-field assault". Ninemsn. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  18. ^ a b "Witness was grandstanding, says coroner". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 September 2006.
  19. ^ Towle, Andy (13 July 2007). "Rugby Icon Ian Roberts Battled Slurs with Kisses". Towleroad. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  20. ^ Robertson, Greg (7 September 2010). "Top Aussie swimmer loses Jaguar over anti-gay tweet". 3 News. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  21. ^ Saulwick, Jacob (1 August 2016). "Former rugby league star Ian Roberts tackles homelessness as Labor candidate". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  22. ^ Magaletti, Douglas (28 November 2021). "MEET THE LGBT CANDIDATES FOR THE CITY OF SYDNEY COUNCIL". Sydney Star Observer. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  23. ^ FitzSimons, Peter (17 February 2024). "'A horrible place for gays is now wonderful', thanks to the toughest bloke I've met". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  24. ^ "From running on rugby league fields to acting on the Hollywood big screen". Fox Sports. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  25. ^ Vagg, Stephen (12 July 2019). "Good Sports: Australian Athletes Who Act". Filmink.
  26. ^ Sweetbriar, BeBe (29 May 2012). "Rugby great Ian Roberts takes first gay role in 'Saltwater'". edgeboston.com. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  27. ^ Erin Free, "Craig Boreham: Teenage Kicks At Mardi Gras". Filmink, 21 February 2017.
  28. ^ Myers, Matt (January 2023). "Feature articles: Ian Roberts". The Celebrity Whisperer. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  29. ^ David Rooney, "'Lonesome': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter, 23 June 2022.

Further reading

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