Souths star James Roberts confident of playing Roosters just days out of rehab facility

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The partner of South Sydney centre James Roberts has denied a drug problem led to his latest visit to rehab as the Origin centre prepares to leave the health facility on Friday with an eye on the Roosters clash just a week later.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the Blues centre has been training inside the Northern Beaches facility over the past couple of weeks in preparation for the NRL's revamped season.

Roberts told his partner and mother of his two children, Anna Jovanovic, that he's confident that he will be ''ready physically and mentally'' after his stint in the wellness facility.

''If he plays the first game, that would be huge for him,'' Jovanovic said. ''I hope he does. Because that's what he is really looking forward to. Knowing James, he might say, 'I need to play, this is what I live and I die for'.

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''The reason he decided to go to rehab was because of the absence rugby league left in his life when we had to go into isolation. You could just see he was lost.

''He would just sit around, be in deep thought and you could see he didn't want to do anything. He lost some of his drive. The whole not getting up for training, the social environment of being with the boys, the happiness that training gives and doing what always does – that was a big part that was missing. He just kept saying 'I just want to play football'.''

Roberts' struggle with drugs and alcohol has haunted the star during his career, yet Jovanovic was quick to deny any link to illicit substances around his return to rehabilitation.

She said it couldn't be further from the truth because Roberts now understands his condition, and recognised the triggers once the NRL season was put on hold. He then opted to admit himself before it led to some of his old habits.

''I think people get the wrong idea and automatically think, 'Oh, he's got a drug problem or he's got a drinking problem','' Jovanovic said. ''It was none of that. It's about mental health, and there's no shame in that. People should be proud of him for making this step for himself and his family, and not misconstrue it with other things.

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''All the stuff from his upbringing, when he's got time to think about it, it creeps back into his mind and that's what triggered him. You know, playing football is what purely makes James happy. When he's on the field, he's unstoppable. That's why he said, 'I need to go and take time to focus on myself and just work on my mental health'.

''He put his hand up. For him to do that is a great step. He's not a really big communicator, he's a complete introvert. So for him to speak up and say, 'I need help' was a huge step for him. That's what he's learnt from previous rehabs, he knows when things are going to trigger him. Mental health is always going to be an ongoing battle for him, it's just a matter of how he manages it before it spirals out of control.''

Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett said he'd support Roberts' return to the game if he's physically and mentally fit.

'We will have to see how he is physically and mentally, but if he's able to play against the Roosters then there's no reason why he wouldn't be considered,'' Bennett said.