Strapping young Wests Tigers second-rower Ethan Roberts just smiles when reflecting on his childhood dream of becoming a jockey.
“It’s pretty crazy when I think of it now,’’ said the 192 cm, 106kg forward.
“Growing up as a kid, I used to always get the day off school for the Melbourne Cup, for no real reason.
“I would go to my aunty’s place and watch the Cup there. It was pretty good as I had the day off school, but I really enjoyed watching the horses more.
“There was one time at primary school where the teachers were reading out the field for the Melbourne Cup.
“One of the teachers was amazed when I started to say the names of the horses in it.
“I have always just liked the Melbourne Cup. I’ve never been but it’s something I do want to get too.
“I don’t watch a lot of horse racing now but as a kid, I watched movies about horses with my nan…films like Phar Lap and Seabiscuit. It just sparked an interest there about becoming a jockey.
“Damien Oliver was my favourite jockey. I remember watching him win a Melbourne Cup and thought how cool it was.
“I used to go the races as a kid with my parents, so it was always a dream to become a jockey.
“I’m not too sure when I realised I couldn’t be a jockey. But my aunty said to us one day, ‘you realise jockeys are only like 54 kilos or something’.
“I was a lot bigger than that at the time, so perhaps that was when I knew I couldn’t be one."
With his body growing and his jockey dream over, Roberts took to rugby league more. After a few junior clubs, Roberts landed at the Sydney Roosters where he came through their pathways before signing a two-year deal with the Wests Tigers from 2026.
The Indigenous All Star can play as both an edge and middle forward and at 21, is a highly regarded prospect.
Roberts, who is on a Development deal in 2026 before moving into the Top 30 squad in 2027, made his NRL debut for the Tigers against Manly in round 11 this season.
Fast forward to this Saturday, and Roberts has been named to start in the second-row for the first time in his two-game career after 17 matches in the NSW Cup with the Western Suburbs Magpies.
“I want to take in as many games as I can to help build my confidence,’’ Roberts said ahead of the clash with the Raiders.
“It’s been a pretty good experience playing NRL here. I feel like as a team, we’re building.
"We’re doing a lot of hard work during the week and feel like we’re getting it right. The results will turn; it’s just a matter of staying in it.”
Roberts said the likes of experienced forwards Terrell May and Alex Twal have been of enormous help in his development but credits the close bond of his family that have got him to where he is.
“My family have played a huge part, like all the little things they do that no one sees,’’ Roberts said.
“They have made me the man I am today.”
It’s a safe bet to say come 3pm Saturday in Canberra, the Roberts family will be watching rugby league instead of the races.
And like Ethan, they too will be hoping to be first past the post this time.
