After securing a significant victory at the Saudi Arabia Masters in August 2023, where he triumphed over Ronnie O’Sullivan, Australian snooker player Neil Robertson has found himself ranked third in the world and leading the one-year ranking list. His coach, Joe Perry, warns against the complacency that can come from such success, emphasizing the need for continued hunger and focus in the competitive world of snooker.
Robertson’s recent success marks a remarkable turnaround for the 43-year-old, who slipped out of the top 20 following his absence from the World Championship earlier in 2024. With a new coaching team, including Perry—his long-time friend and practice partner—Robertson has regained his position among the elite players in the sport.
Perry’s Guidance and Focus on Motivation
Perry, a two-time ranking event winner, acknowledges that Robertson requires little technical coaching, given his established prowess as one of the sport’s greats. Instead, Perry’s focus is on maintaining Robertson’s motivation after winning the impressive £500,000 prize in Jeddah. “He is easy to work with,” Perry stated. “There’s nothing we need to do technically. He’s got control of all that side of it.”
As Robertson enjoys a strong run of form, Perry’s challenge is to keep the player hungry. “It’s just pushing on and trying to keep it going,” he added. With Robertson’s recent achievements, Perry is committed to ensuring that he remains driven to improve.
Robertson himself recognizes the importance of this focus. “He’s been really on that to make sure that the events that I’m playing in are motivated and prepared well,” he said. Winning the Saudi Masters early in the season could lead many to relax, but Robertson is determined to maintain his momentum. “You can see it in the performances this season. I’ve had a great season.”
Challenges and Future Competitions
Despite his success, Perry has expressed concern over Robertson’s decision to withdraw from several events this season, including the Wuhan Open, Northern Ireland Open, and Scottish Open. “He has pulled out of a couple of events, which I’m not overly happy about,” Perry remarked. “It’s not something I encourage, but I don’t know what it’s like to win events continuously.”
Robertson clarified that his withdrawals were due to unavoidable circumstances, including illness, injury, and travel commitments related to receiving his Order of Australia award. “I arrived back the day before I was playing the English Open, so that was a wipe out as well,” he explained. “Then we went to Xi’an and a few people got really ill, and I was one of them.”
As he navigates these challenges, Robertson is determined to keep his form sharp, especially with major events on the horizon. “The back end of the season is massive for guys at the top. We’ve got some huge events, all culminating at the World Championship,” Perry noted.
Looking ahead, Robertson is preparing for a thrilling first-round match at the Masters against O’Sullivan at Alexandra Palace. “How can you not look forward to it?” Perry said. “That’s probably the most raucous, best atmosphere you can ever have as a professional snooker player.”
As the competition unfolds, both Robertson and Perry are focused on maintaining momentum and ensuring that the success of the season does not lead to complacency. The upcoming matches will test their resolve and commitment to excellence in a sport that demands continuous improvement and dedication.
