IF selected on Sunday, Saints skipper James Roby will bring up a remarkable career milestone of 500 top level appearances for club and country.

The whole of the rugby league world will no doubt join Saints in marking this landmark for one of the sport’s good guys - a skilful, classy, modest team leader, a consummate professional and fantastic role model.

It has been quite a career for rugby league’s Mr Perpetual Motion who made his debut off the bench against Widnes as an 18-year-old in March 2004, making his first full appearance at stand off in the infamous depleted ‘betting scandal game’ team a few weeks later.

Roby bided his time at first, filling in at six and seven and even on the wing, before finally dislodging the talented Micky Higham as Keiron Cunningham’s understudy.

Immediately we saw what the ex-Blackbrook junior brought to the party, with his rapier like thrusts from dummy half ripping teams apart, this after Kez had spent 30 minutes physically marmalising them.

Anyone wanting a quick peek into the prime James Roby toolkit should look at the first try at the new Wembley in 2007. Vision, footwork, speed, determination and a fend got him over for the deadlock-breaking score.

He has other bits too, with an insatiable workrate in defence, and a handy boot to clear the line. For all of his competitiveness, it is difficult to recall him committing an act of foul play.

And by the looks of it, if the first two games back are anything top go by he still has plenty to offer with the ball and through his Chris Joynt, do it by example style of leadership.

It has been a pleasure watching this fella grow up in the Red Vee - and he deserves all the accolades he receives.