“He’s an exceptional person” – Kristian Woolf praises James Roby following 500th appearance

Yesterday James Roby made his 500th appearance and he was just as good as he’s been in the previous 499.

The 2007 Man of Steel and Wembley try scorer has been the lynchpin at St Helens and has perhaps been the most consistent player in Super League history. Leading the charge for St Helens again in 2022 as he aims to become the first captain to lift four Super League titles in a row, he was magnificent as Saints downed rivals Leeds at Headingley.

Central to the win and immaculate in virtually every area of the game, Roby received huge praise from Head Coach Kristian Woolf after the game as you’d expect from one of Super League’s all-time greats.

“James Roby did what he does every single game,” Woolf said after the game, “He’s probably played that game for all 500 and that’s why he’s such a special player. The way he competes, the effort he puts in, just how good he is at every part of his game. His pass is 99/100 every game and his defence is always based on effort. He does the little things that people don’t necessarily see.

“I find it hard in my time here to think of a game where he hasn’t been an eight or nine out of 10 and I think you overlook him at times because he is so good, so solid for every game.

“I can’t sing his praises enough, he’s an exceptional person. The club is very much in his image. I think the values we have as a team is very much in his image and he’s going to leave a legacy here which is exceptional.”