Joe Perry cautions high-flying Neil Robertson against making a costly mistake.
Neil Robertson has enjoyed an impressive campaign to this point, but his coach Joe Perry has warned him against becoming too relaxed while sitting close to the summit of the rankings.
The Australian star struck gold in August by claiming the lucrative Saudi Arabia Masters crown, defeating Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final. That victory lifted him to third in the world rankings and placed him at the top of the one-year list.
The success marks a remarkable revival for the 43-year-old, who failed to qualify for the 2024 World Championship and consequently dropped out of the top 20.
Robertson responded by reshaping his support team, most notably appointing long-time friend and practice partner Perry as his coach and mentor. The move appears to have played a key role in his rapid climb back up the rankings.
Perry, a two-time ranking event champion, believes there is little to fix in Robertson’s technique, given his status as one of the finest cueists the game has seen. Instead, the focus is on ensuring he stays driven after pocketing the £500,000 first prize in Jeddah.
“He’s great to work with,” Perry told Metro. “With Neil, there’s nothing technical that needs attention — he’s completely in control there.
“At the start it was straightforward because he was desperate to get back to where he feels he belongs, and where we all know he belongs. Now the real test is sustaining that hunger. He’s had such a strong spell that he’s climbed high in the rankings again and is secure for a long time, so it’s about keeping that edge and maintaining the standard he showed when he was fighting his way back. The aim is to keep pushing forward and not let it drop.”
Robertson admitted he was aware that complacency could be a danger and said Perry has been firm in keeping him focused.
“Definitely,” Robertson said. “He’s been very strong on making sure I’m properly motivated and well prepared for every event I play.
“Winning in Saudi so early in the season could easily lead some players to ease off a bit. There is that feeling because you’re already safe for upcoming tournaments and there are no ranking pressures. But things have been really positive. The motivation is still there, and it shows in my performances this season. I’ve been having a fantastic year.”
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