The extraordinary statistic behind ‘undeniably Super League’s best ever player’ James Roby

James Gordon 15 May 2023 8:45 AM

James Roby, SWPix. — Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

James Roby was dubbed Super League’s greatest ever player as he celebrated a landmark appearance for St Helens at the weekend.

Roby, 37, became Saints’ all-time record appearance maker with 532, surpassing Kel Coslett’s record that had stood for more than 45 years.

He is due to retire at the end of the season following an iconic career for his hometown club that has seen him win six Super League titles, four Challenge Cups and two World Club Challenges.

The 2007 Man of Steel has been named in the Super League Dream Team five times, and was the Harry Sunderland Trophy in 2014.

His coach and former team-mate Paul Wellens says there is no doubt that Roby is Super League’s best ever.

Wellens said: “For me it’s undeniable. James Roby won the Man of Steel in 2007 and I reckon he’s had 10 seasons better than that.

“That just gives an indication to how incredible he is, and I reckon sometimes we take him for granted.

“His brilliance has almost become normality and sometimes it can be doing him a little bit of disservice because ‘oh it’s James Roby, he gets out there and does what he does’ but we forget the amount of effort and what he puts his body through, with the minimal fuss.”

An extraordinary appearance record over 20 seasons

Since Roby made his debut for St Helens against Widnes on March 19 2004, Saints have played a total of 626 games as reported by the Rugby League Record Keepers’ Club.

That means he has played 85% of St Helens’ games in the past 20 seasons, an incredible reflection of his longevity and importance to a multiple-championship winning team.

He has missed just 94 games in that time. Roby was virtually an ever present for eight seasons following his breakthrough year, averaging more than 30 games a season.

In 2013, he was restricted to 14 games due to two ankle injuries but would then go on to be a virtual ever present once again up until 2019 where he played only(!) 23 times. In the COVID impacted 2020 season, he made 17 appearances. Had COVID not occurred, the record could have long since been broken.

Of his 532 appearances, 388 have been starts and Roby has scored 116 tries, one goal and one drop goal in his Saints career.

A statue for the best player in Super League history

Salford coach Paul Rowley added to the superlatives being used to describe Roby, who played a key role in overturning a 12-0 deficit for Saints against the Red Devils.

Rowley said: “You can think of a lot of really positive adjectives to describe James but I think the most simple way of putting it is, in the Super League era, he has been the best player.

“Not just the best hooker, the best player. To play in that position for so long, in different eras where he’s had to evolve and adapt his game and play such long minutes, is testament to him as a person, a professional and his environment as well.

“I’m sure they’re mixing up the mix now to have that statue outside the stadium next to Keiron (Cunningham) and he’d be worthy of it.”

On the statue, Wellens added: “I’d built it myself if they asked me!

“Whichever way James Roby is honoured, whether it’s a statue or something else, I’m sure his legacy will be honoured.

“What we need to do is use James Roby to inspire generations of aspiring young Saints players, whether that be women or men.

“They can look at him as an example if you work hard, you’re humble and you’re willing to strive to improve and come through adversity, and have humility in the way that you do it, then you can go on and almost achieve anything you want.”