JAMES Roby is happy to go back to the future for England.

The Saints hooker could be England’s lethal weapon off the bench in the Test series with New Zealand, if Saturday’s dress-rehearsal demolition of France proves to be correct precedence.

Roby, a regular 80-minute man only called upon as an impact hooker in Super League twice since Keiron Cunningham’s retirement in 2010, helped to rip France apart as a substitute during his return to the England team at Leigh Sports Village.

The 29-year-old, who sat out last season’s Four Nations campaign to rest up after surgery, replaced Canberra Raiders dummy half Josh Hodgson midway through the first period and collected two tries as England rattled up 50 points during his 35 minutes on the field.

With South Sydney Rabbitohs’ Issac Luke so influential at hooker – as Saints found out at close hand in the World Club Challenge earlier this year – it is a crucial selection choice for Steve McNamara to get right at the KC Stadium in Hull on Sunday and for the following Tests in London on November 7 and Wigan on November 14.

“I’ve not played off the bench for a while but it was fine on Saturday to be honest,” said Roby, one of England’s most experienced campaigners with 22 caps.

“It goes back to what I used to do, coming on and trying to add attacking impetus with runners off any quick rucks and trying to provide a bit of a spark if I can in and around tired defenders.

“I like to think it worked a little bit against France. I feel fine about coming off the bench and as long as I’m in an England shirt that’ll do for me.

“It’s obviously playing less minutes and might make me feel a little bit fresher at the end of a game.

“Playing 80 minutes does take its toll to be honest and over the weeks of a season with bumps and bruises you don’t really get much chance to heal.

“I suppose you are always waiting for the end of the year for a period where you can have a rest for a few weeks, go on holiday and get your body right again.

“But I’ve benefited loads with the few weeks I’ve had since Saints played that final game against Leeds. And if I’m coming off the bench and playing about 40 minutes per game it shouldn’t put me under too much pressure.

“Saturday was the first time Josh and I have combined for real in a match environment and I think it worked fine.

“He is a tried and tested player who has had a fantastic year in the NRL. If he’s going to end up starting he can take the grunt for me – I’ve got no qualms with that.

“He’ll get all the aggression and fire and enthusiasm in the first 20 minutes. That part of the game may prove to be Josh’s job to deal with and hopefully by then I can come on and there may be some tired defenders who I can maybe take advantage of.”

Roby did look restless on the sidelines though waiting to get on the field against France.

“I was a little bit,” he said. “I knew an approximate time frame I was going on but when you’re on the side you do want to get on, get involved and get the job done.

“And when you’re just training, training and training, like we have been for a few weeks with no game at the weekend, it’s hard to keep your concentration. Everyone’s just looking forward to getting out on the pitch and getting some game time.”

Like Roby, his hooking counterpart Luke – co-captain of the tourists – is considered among the best in the world and the Saints man is revelling in the opportunity to square up to him.

They will come toe-to-toe at international level for the first time since the Kiwis broke England hearts with a last-seconds winning converted try from Shaun Johnson in the 2013 World Cup semi final at Wembley.

“That was a hard game to take. I think we were the better team and they scored in the final moments,” said Roby, the only current Saints man in the England squad though he has company from old teammate James Graham, the Canterbury Bulldogs prop.

“People make comparisons between players, and with England there’s me and Josh and then there’s Issac Luke at New Zealand.

“It’s going to be great playing against Luke. You want to play against the best and try to prove you’re better than the opposite number. It should be a great test.

“I watched a bit of the Kiwis game against Leeds last Friday. I only saw the first half but from what I saw he had a great game.

“He’s not the New Zealand starting hooker for nothing, he’s a world-class player. I’m looking forward to it. I suppose I’ll concentrate on getting my own job right and hopefully that will be good enough.”