ROBY IS ON ROLL
Saints hero honoured
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JAMES ROBY wrote another record-breaking chapter into his glorious St Helens career on an emotional, and typically victorious, afternoon.
The iconic Saints captain, 37, made his 532nd appearance for his hometown team, a club record to take him past Kel Coslett.
It is a feat unlikely to be surpassed for decades – possibly never – and a rich testament to his amazing 20-year career.
Modest Roby, a one-club man, said: “I’ve got this far by approaching things with the same mindset and I just tried to do that again. I knew it was going to be a special occasion and it was great. I’ll remember this day for a long time.”
Serial-winner Roby was given a guard of honour by the St Helens players and a number of club legends before kick-off.
At the end his team-mates held a huge banner which simply read: “James Roby – The greatest of all time.”
The much-loved hooker is retiring at the end of the season and Saints boss Paul Wellens said: “Robes is the greatest player in Super League history and that is undeniable.
“He won Man of Steel in 2007 and I reckon he’s had 10 seasons better than that. That just gives an indication of how incredible he is. His brilliance has almost become normality over 20 years.”
Saints fans chanted for “one more year” after Roby’s effervescent 75-minute display as the defending champions hit back from 12-0 down for victory.
Smart
Wellens added with a smile: “I went out for dinner last Saturday with my wife, and Robes and his wife. At no point did I try and persuade him to do another year! “His mind is firmly made up and it’s a smart decision. We want to send him off as a champion.”
Salford stormed into a 12-0 lead inside the opening quarter. First, King Vuniyayawa sent Brodie Croft racing clear to score. Then full-back Ryan Brierley swapped passes with Kallum Watkins and burst clear for a second before Saints’ made their class pay.
James Bell dived over before secondhalf scores from Curtis Sironen, Jonny Lomax, Tommy Makinson and Joe Batchelor saw Saints home.
Salford could not cope with their intensity, and boss Paul Rowley said: “Our discipline with the ball in the second half was really poor and Saints beat us up.”
ST HELENS: Tries: Bell, Sironen, Lomax, Makinson, Batchelor; Cons: Makinson (3)
SALFORD: Tries: Croft, Brierley; Cons: Sneyd (2)