Snooker ace Neil Robertson emotional as he wins special award that when he first heard about ‘made me feel quite edgy’

NEIL ROBERTSON is hoping that erstwhile helium flies to Australia to prime up a prestigious idiosyncratic gong helium volition beryllium bringing the Crucible trophy home.

The Melbourne-born cueist has been awarded the Medal of the Order by the Australian Government – which means helium tin person the OAM rubric aft his afloat name.

This is successful designation of his outstanding achievements and work successful the athletics of snooker, specifically his satellite rubric triumph successful Sheffield 15 years ago.

At immoderate point, helium volition request to alert to Oz to person the honour from officials – perchance successful the superior Canberra – and the imagination would beryllium to spell determination with immoderate other silverware successful his suitcase.

Robertson, 42, said: “That would beryllium sensational, wouldn’t it? That would beryllium awesome. To triumph astatine the Crucible earlier going retired there.

“I judge determination are events successful April, May and September wherever you tin prime up the OAM.

“So, I americium hoping the May 1 is successful the mediate of the period aft the Crucible has finished.

“That would beryllium cleanable timing, spell home, spot my family, That would beryllium a really, truly arrogant moment.”

Robertson, victor of 24 ranking titles, is arguably the astir palmy snooker subordinate from extracurricular the UK and Ireland.

In his career, helium has deed 5 maximum breaks and lone Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and John Higgins person deed much centuries than the near hander’s people of 972.

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The Thunder from Down Under said: “I received an email successful December saying I would beryllium considered for the award.

“It made maine consciousness rather edgy. I was truthful excited but I didn’t cognize however overmuch of a formality it would be. Or if I’d miss out.

“In immoderate sports you person Hall of Fame nominations and immoderate radical ne'er ever get successful oregon lone erstwhile they retire.

“You privation these awards portion you are competing astatine the apical of the sport.

“I past got an email saying it would beryllium announced connected January 26 – Australia Day – and I was afloat of emotion.

“You ne'er deliberation you volition get thing similar this.

“Especially an Australian playing snooker. Australia doesn’t conscionable manus retired awards successful sport.

“You request to beryllium a large winner. I deliberation I person decidedly been that. I americium blessed to get the honour for sure.

“I’ve seen Ronnie and Stephen Hendry get assorted honours successful Britain.

“So to get that myself done snooker and articulation them with the Australian version, I’m truly proud.

“My bequest extends beyond Australia. I person been a large inspiration to overseas players.

“Before I came along, and Ding Junhui arsenic well, cipher had had immense occurrence connected a accordant basis.

“I deliberation betwixt america we person combined for astir 40 ranking events.

“We person near an astonishing bequest down and inspired others to spot that it’s imaginable to travel from the different broadside of the satellite to person a palmy vocation successful snooker.”