James Roby "privileged" to be breaking long-standing St Helens record

12 May 2023 , 21:00

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James Roby will become St Helens' record appearance maker

JAMES ROBY will be “privileged” to usurp the great Kel Coslett as St Helens’ record appearance-maker - even if teenage team-mates mock him about his age.

When the iconic captain Roby lines up against Salford on Saturday lunchtime, it will be his 532nd game for the reigning Betfred Super League champions. That surpasses the total of legendary Welsh forward Coslett whose record of 531 has stood since 1976. Ex-Great Britain hooker Roby, who has spent his entire career with Saints and retires at the end of this season, admits it will be a proud moment. Coslett, who led the club to two Challenge Cup glories, is now 81.

Roby, 37, said: “We’ve not talked about the record itself but I had a chat with Kel this week to do a little piece for Saints. He’s a great bloke. As a young player I remember him being around in roles like team manager and club president. You can’t not know his name as you walk out of the changing room and he leads the appearance board on the wall there. It’s players who have played more than 300 games for St Helens and Kel’s name is sitting proudly at the top.

“We all know who he is. He holds records for points, goals kicked and all sorts. He should be very proud of what he’s achieved. He did it in his day in different circumstances when they used to play 40/50 games per year. I don’t think we could do that nowadays. I’m proud and privileged to take the mantle off someone as significant and well-respected as Kel.”

St Helens' captains past and present, Kel Coslett, right, and James Roby chatting earlier this week on St Helens TV (PIC: ST HELENS RLFC)

Roby conceded beating Coslett’s record was one of the reasons he made a U-decision against retiring and carried on playing this season. But he does feel old when he realises team-mate George Delaney was just two MONTHS old when he debuted in 2004. Roby said: “Every year I come back into the team I see new, young lads come in. When George said that it scares me that I've been doing this every day of his life! But at the same time I’m proud of it. They have a bit of a laugh and giggle. But I like it.”

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Given the way the modern sport is evolving, it is highly unlikely Roby’s record will ever be broken. But he’s more concerned with getting the World Club champions back on song given they have lost three of their last four games. Chasing a fifth straight title, Roby said: “We’ve had some adversity. We’ve not got flowing this year. We have to concentrate on getting back winning and getting in those play-off spots. Once there I’m hugely confident in what we can do. And I’d back us every day of the week.”

David Craven