James Roby reacts to Ivan Cleary’s bold St Helens comments

James Roby became only the second man to captain an English club to a World Club Challenge win in Australia on Saturday when he was central to St Helens’ win over Penrith Panthers.

After the game, Roby said he hopes that Super League subsequently commands a bit more respect.

He said to NRL.com: “We wanted to come and earn a bit of respect, and earn it by performances on the field. Tonight’s performance will go a long way in doing that because that Penrith team are a fantastic team.

“Obviously the game went to golden point but all week we were preparing for the best possible team and best possible Penrith team, it was one hell of a game. In parts probably not the most attractive game. It was set for set, it was a grind and we stuck in there to get over the line.”

Also after the game, Penrith boss Ivan Cleary spoke highly of how St Helens would perform in the NRL:

“Maybe they would win it? I think they would get pretty close,” he said after the 13-12 defeat according to Sporting News.

“They are full of great players and they are a winning club and they deserved to win tonight. It’s hard to say [how they would go in the NRL], but they’d probably go alright.

“I don’t think it took us by surprise, we totally respected what they were going to bring. They are a winning footy team and that’s kind of how they play.

“They definitely deserved to win – I thought they played the conditions better and took their chances as well.

“I was proud of the way the boys hung in there in the second-half…we struggled to create any momentum. We stuck at it, but I don’t think you can take anything away from St Helens.

“They controlled the ruck very well and got off the line very hard…that lead that they built was probably the difference.”

On Cleary’s comments, Roby responded: “That’s a very nice comment from Ivan Cleary and there’s mutual respect there, they’re a fantastic team. But comments like that are really pleasing from our end because maybe a few weeks ago he probably wouldn’t have said stuff like that.”