EACH year the Pride of St Helens panel choose a Special Achievement Award to honour someone who it is felt has an important and lasting contribution to the town.

There is no shortlist for this award, though worthy candidates are discussed and considered.

This year there was one person who was the natural choice - retiring Saints skipper James Roby.

A former Cowley pupil and a product of Blackbrook Royals, he made his debut for St Helens rugby league club in March 2004 when aged 18 and his prodigious talent was quickly evident.

By 2006 James was working the dummy half role to devastating effect in tandem with Keiron Cunningham and was part of Daniel Anderson’s treble winning team.

He was in the side that triumphed over Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Challenge and later that year became the first player to score a try at the new Wembley Stadium. His contribution to Saints’ success in 2007 saw him win the Steve Prescott Man of Steel for the first – and unbelievably, only time.

He later won a third Challenge Cup medal in 2008 and after a barren spell for the club he was key to Saints’ Grand Final double in 2014, winning the Harry Sunderland for the first time.

He was appointed team captain in 2018 – and embarked on leading the club on a trophy-laden period that included four consecutive Grand Final wins and a Challenge Cup victory.

He marked his twentieth and final campaign by leading Saints to a World Club Championship win over Penrith Panthers. In total he helped Saints win six Super League titles, four Challenge Cups and two World Club Challenges. He played an astonishing 551 matches in the red vee, overtaking Kel Coslett, who held the record for 47 years.

Former Saints player Paul Loughlin collected James' award on his behalf at last Friday's ceremony.

James has been recognised by these awards before – indeed he was the Pride of St Helens Award winner in 2019. But such has been the scale of achievements since then, the judges felt we had to give this phenomenal leader further recognition.

In many ways James embodies the spirit of these awards; through his qualities of talent, courage, achievement, work ethic and humility.

 

James could not attend the night due to a long-standing commitment but he sent a video message in which he said: “I am immensely proud and grateful to receive this accolade. Thank you to everyone who has played their part in this – whether it be for me or the club in general.

“I have been part of St Helens rugby league club for 20 years now and it has been a fantastic journey. To all the good people in St Helens that are out there, I am immensely proud again, forever grateful and honoured.”