IT’S the nights when Tim Robinson’s heart aches most and his eyes, they never close.
“I’m lying in bed, I’m trying to get some sleep and all I’m thinking is, ‘what’s he doing right now, where is he, where did he go?’, ’’ Tim said.
For eight agonising nights, the younger brother of former NRL player Chad Robinson, who vanished without trace last Saturday night, has wanted only one thing.
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READ NOW“Just to talk to him, hear his voice. Just to know that ... he’s still here.’’
The Robinson family is refusing to give up hope they will find the 36-year-old former Parramatta and Sydney Roosters forward, who played 159 NRL matches between 2000 and 2008.
Coached by NRL mentors including Ricky Stuart, Brian Smith, Michael Hagan and Jason Taylor, Chad was a rugged, no-nonsense player, once rated by former Test forward Craig Fitzgibbon as “the best forward at the Roosters” in 2003.
Right now, those great days seem so long ago as a devastated family and the rugby league community bind together to find Chad.
A father to teenagers Kiara and Cooper, Chad was last seen leaving his Beaumont Hills home at 7.30pm last Saturday in his silver Subaru Outback, without his wallet, phone or shoes and wearing only black shorts and maroon T-shirt.
Like many retired players, it’s believed Chad found the transition from professional league challenging, working first as a labourer before joining a car finance company.
However, Robinson said he never feared for his brother’s welfare or that he was struggling financially, saying: “Chad is a smart guy who always lands on his feet.” What baffles the family is that there was no fight or argument with anyone before he vanished.
By 10pm, his stomach churning, Tim, sister Monique and their extended family began desperately scouring every street, park, pub and back alley in the Hills district.
“To get the phone call from my sister on Saturday night, I couldn’t get out of there quickly enough,’’ said Robinson, who played 27 first-grade games for Manly and Cronulla.
“We keep saying it, but it’s true — this is not anything we saw coming because it’s completely out of character.
“We continued searching early morning on the Sunday.
“By that afternoon we decided to let the police know and Monique did the media conference with the police.”
Help is the one thing this distraught family, has found easy. A Let’s Find Chad page has been shared more than 10,000 times on social media.
Former Eels teammate Mark Riddell spent last Monday checking rest-stops near Lithgow and waterways adjacent to the Nepean. Nothing. The search continues today. “We just want Chad home,” Robinson said.
Anyone with information should contact Castle Hill Police on 02 9680 5399