FORMER Super League star Rob Roberts' York Wasps career appears to be over after just two games.

Roberts was again left out of the team which lost 82-4 at Doncaster Dragons yesterday, reportedly with a knee injury.

But after the game coach Lee Crooks admitted the ex-Hull FC and Halifax loose forward had "gone AWOL."

Roberts' off-field problems at all his previous clubs have been well documented. He joined the Wasps last month from Hunslet and was hoping some good performances would relaunch his Super League career.

However, after playing in the games against Batley and Workington, he has failed to turn up for training and has not been in contact with Crooks.

In a further blow to the Wasps, Shaun Austerfield has also been ruled out for the forseeable future due to work commitments.

He has been unable to make the new training nights of Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and Crooks confirmed: "Until he can get that sorted out he's of no use to us. It's not fair on the lads who turn up for training to play him when he can't train."

The Wasps badly needed Austerfield and Roberts yesterday as they reverted back to the kind of form which Crooks thought they had put behind them.

It was an inept display full of the most basic errors and left a disconsolate Crooks wondering how to get the team back on track for next Sunday's visit of Hull KR.

"It's hard to know what to do or what to say," said Crooks, who was visibly shattered by the manner of the defeat. "The game is very basic, it's about controlling the ball and tackling. We did neither of them.

"We set a team goal to complete the first five sets and I think we only completed the first one. After that it all went to pieces."

This week Crooks will turn his attention to the basics in a bid to banish some of the problems. He said: "We need to go right back to basics.

" We need to get all the players to training to start with and if we can do that we'll work on the basics of the game - catching and passing, tackling and basic field position.

"I still think we can compete if we can get good field position and a good kicking game."

Despite yesterday's dismal performance, the York chief insists he will not be going in search of new players. Instead, he will concentrate on moulding the current crop to get some continuity in the side.

But he admitted it is becoming a bigger struggle by the week.

"We know the position we're in at the club but unfortunately today I don't think the players competed and that hurts me.

"I feel sorry for the likes of Neil Harmon. He should be playing at a higher level and shouldn't be playing in a team that gets beat like that.

"A lot of the other players have to take a long hard look at themselves and get some ambitions," said Crooks, adding that he will continue to stick by the club.

Updated: 12:20 Monday, May 07, 2001