James Roby can inspire a generation of future Saints

Coach Paul Wellens, who played alongside the international hooker for the first 12 years of his career, is in a good position to judge when it comes to paying a tribute like that.

The former Blackbrook junior yesterday broke Kel Coslett's long-standing club appearance record when he ran out for the 532nd time - and he'll continue to extend that before he hangs up his boots at the end of the season.

James Roby - the Greatest Ever Super League Player

Wellens said: "I think for me, it's undeniable that he has been the greatest Super League player.

"You don't pick it on the amount of games someone's played, but when you play that many games at such a high level over a long period.

"James Roby won the Man of Steel in 2007, but I reckon he's had 10 seasons better than you know that just gives an indication to of how incredible he is.

"Sometimes we take it for granted and also what his brilliance has almost become normality, and I think sometimes we do him a bit of a disservice because or it's just James Roby gets out there and that's what he does what he does.

"But we forget the amount of effort, what he puts his body through, how he does it with a minimal fuss."

Roby played just short of the 80 minutes yesterday and made a number of telling contributions in a game in which the team needed to dig in for.

A rugby league leader in the toughest team sport

The skipper leads by example and exudes the qualities needed to be a success in this toughest of team contact sports.

"I'm a firm believer that rugby league is the toughest team sport in the world.

"I don't think there's any team sport compares to it and I feel rugby league players are like the Royal Marines or the SAS of the sporting world.

"I think James Roby is the premier soldier in in the Royal Marines or in the SS because there's not many athletes in the world who can put their body through what James Roby has put his body through over a 20-year period," Wellens said.

A statue of James Roby?

There is now a clamour for a statue of Roby to join Keiron Cunningham - then man he was understudy to in the early days of his career - on show at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

Wellens joked that he would build it himself if they asked him. 

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

"I'm sure they'll be or a visual sign.

"But 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 in a way and see if you work hard, if you're willing to strive to improve and willing to come through adversity and do all of those things, whilst all at the same time having a humility around the way you do it, then you know you can go on and almost achieve anything you want," Wellens said.