NRL: Warriors snap up Sharks veteran

Simon Mannering and Jeff Robson will be teaming up at the Warriors next season. Photo / Getty

The Warriors have signed NRL veteran Jeff Robson from the Cronulla Sharks on a one-year deal, adding further depth and experience to the club's stocks for the 2016 season.

The 33-year-old halfback has 159 NRL games to his name and played a key role in the Sharks run through to the 2015 finals, in which they beat the South Sydney Rabbitohs before being eliminated by grand finalists the North Queensland Cowboys.

Warriors coach Andrew McFadden said Robson's experience and professionalism will provide a boost to the side.

"It's great to have Jeff joining us. He's not only a proven performer but he's also a durable and totally professional athlete," said McFadden.

"Like Roger (Tuivasa-Sheck), Issac (Luke) and Blake (Ayshford), Jeff enables us to build our depth as well as giving us another player to help to lift our standards across the squad and throughout the club."

Robson started his career with six games for Manly, before spending three seasons with the Parramatta Eels, the first of which saw him appear in the 2009 decider against the Newcastle Knights. He switched to Cronulla in 2012.

His arrival will ensure the Warriors have ample back-up in the halves, with Shaun Johnson the current owner of the No7 jersey and young halfback Mason Lino recently re-signed for two more years.

McFadden has previously spoken about switching Johnson to five-eighth in 2016, which could allow Robson to play halfback, and both Thomas Leuluai and Tui Lolohea can play in either halves position. Robson can also play at hooker or five-eighth.

Robson's signing come after the Warriors' recent recruitment of fellow former Shark Ayshford, and follows last year's signing of former Cronulla outside-back Jonathan Wright.

Prior to that, the Warriors also signed both Jayson Bukuya and Chad Townsend from the Sharks, with Bukuya returning to Cronulla this season and Townsend following him for 2016, after two seasons playing in the halves at the Warriors.

Townsend came to Mt Smart Stadium in 2014 looking to cement a regular NRL starting spot after finding his progress at the Sharks impeded by both Robson and former five-eighth Todd Carney.

Robson played all 26 matches for the Sharks this year and has missed only nine games in his four seasons with the club.

Also able to play, he has played a total of nine finals matches in four play-off campaigns during his career.

Jeff Robson:

Date of Birth: August 5, 1982
Birthplace: Leeton, NSW, Australia
Junior Club: Leeton Greenies
Position: Halfback
Height: 176cm
Weight: 87kg
Rep Honours: Nil
NRL Debut: Manly v Cronulla, Brookvale Oval, 23/05/2004 (Round 11)
NRL Career: 159 appearances, 2004-2015
-Manly: 6 appearances, 2004-2008
-Parramatta: 61 appearances, 2009-2011
-Cronulla: 92 appearances, 2012-2015
NRL Points: 109 (27 tries, 1 field goal)