Ruby hits 500: ‘He is definitely one of many sport’s greats’

Since his debut in opposition to Widnes in 2004, St Helens followers have change into accustomed to the sight of James Robbie within the purple and white jersey. On Friday, they are going to see him put on this shirt for the five hundredth time in opposition to Leeds Rhinos, cementing himself as one of many greats of the Premier League period.

Robbie’s profession is one the place the stats communicate for themselves, as his 18-year profession with St Helen made an inventory of particular person and group accolades that any rugby league participant would envy.

With 5 Grand Finals, 4 Problem Cups, 5 Dream Staff matches within the Tremendous League and one Harry Sunderland Cup, the youngest ever profitable participant in Man of Metal is without doubt one of the most adorned gamers of the Tremendous League period, getting into his five hundredth look with St. Helens vs Leeds Rhinos on Friday, it is a testomony to his character who’s at all times been on the high of his sport for thus lengthy.

Regardless of such excessive honors, when chatting with those that have performed with him, labored with him, or lined up in opposition to him, all of them spotlight one side of Roby they admire most of all: his humility.

Paul Villains: It is an honor to play with him

To grasp Robbie’s longevity, you first have to know his breakthrough as a teenager, which nobody understands greater than his former teammate and present St Helen and England assistant coach, Paul Wells.

Willens performed with Robbie from 2004 till 2015 and believes the Saints captain is probably the most “mentally resilient” teammate he has performed with in his 20-year profession.

“It has been a pleasure to be within the Robes for the previous 20 years since he first got here to the primary group atmosphere in St. Helens,” Willens stated.

“It was an enormous honor to play alongside him, and he’s merely among the best rugby league gamers of any period.

“He has a no-nonsense method to the sport and does what must be performed.

“I’ve by no means come throughout a participant as mentally versatile as he’s, and if you mix that along with his undoubted capability, it turns into clear how undoubtedly he is without doubt one of the greats of the sport.”

2014 Tremendous League Remaining: James Robbie lifts the League Cup alongside Nathan Brown and captain Paul Wellens

After retiring from skilled rugby in 2015, Welles grew to become concerned with the St. Helens teaching workers and stated it made him worth Robbie extra as a captain.

Willens stated: “Since my retirement, it has been a pleasure to be a part of the teaching workers as he has taken over the group and led the membership by means of one in every of his most profitable intervals of all time.

“The membership’s current success has been based mostly on exhausting work, a devoted angle and accountability to mirror on each constructive and unfavorable efficiency.

“Jilbab leads by instance greater than every other captain I’ve come throughout, he shows all of those qualities and is an inspiration to everybody on the membership who’ve had the pleasure of working with him every day.

“He has achieved and continues to take action a lot doing so with such a level, nice capability and work ethic however with a humility that he loves for all of us.”

Justin Holbrook: He is probably the most dependable participant I’ve ever coached

Celebration: James Robbie lifts the Problem Cup for St Helens in 2023, within the membership’s first win at Wembley since 2008.

Robbie labored underneath 10 totally different coaches at his hometown membership, together with Justin Holbrook, who coached St Helens in 2019 when he claimed his first Grand Remaining win in 5 years.

Regardless of working with a whole lot of gamers in each the Tremendous League and NRL, Holbrook believes that nobody is as “dependable” because the Saints captain.

“It is a pleasure to speak about James Ruby,” Holbrooke says.

“He’s the best participant to work with as a coach.

“His aggressive and difficult nature is hidden by how humble he’s as a person.

“His selfless driving type and consistency in the best way he trains, prepares and performs video games is what makes him so cool.”

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A glance again as St Helens beat the Catalan Dragons 12-10 to win the Premier League Grand Remaining in 2023.

Making 60 tackles per sport has change into the norm for Robbie, one thing the previous St. Helens coach remembers with curiosity.

“It does not matter if he is defending for all the 80 minutes of the match, he’ll do it the appropriate manner with exhausting work and honesty.

“Robes by no means asks one other participant to do one thing they will not, and I’ve by no means heard him kick one other teammate or have a unfavorable phrase to say about her even within the midst of a match.

“All of those qualities are why James Robbie is probably the most dependable participant I’ve ever coached.

“I’m very completely satisfied for Robbs with what he has achieved up to now and he deserves all of the trophies he has received though he can be completely satisfied to not have any, he simply needs to go forward and win the subsequent sport for his hometown St. Helens.”

Sean O’Loughlin: He is a world class participant and a world class man

James Robbie interferes in the course of the 4 Nations, with Sean O’Loughlin supporting England’s prostitute

The reward of Robbie shouldn’t be restricted to those that have performed with him at membership stage, Sean O’Loughlin, former Wigan captain and Robbie’s England team-mate, described his taking part in type as “impeccable”.

Though O’Loughlin broke into the Wigan first-team ranks a number of years earlier than Roby performed St Helens, he remembers going through St Helens Hooker within the derby and was impressed along with his work off the bench.

“I believed when Robbs got here onto the scene behind Keiron Cunningham, he was two years youthful than me and appeared like a child however you may inform it was an actual deal,” says the previous Wigan and England captain.

“I noticed he was an excellent competitor however his engine was what stood out and he did not go mistaken.

“He was superb at protecting his consistency all through the sport and after that he did not seem like he was taking part in.”

Competing because the fiercest of contenders, O’Loughlin and Roby lined up facet by facet for each England and Nice Britain, the expertise of taking part in with Roby lived as much as what O’Loughlin had hoped for.

James Ruby taking part in alongside Sam Tomkins of England

Recalling their time collectively on worldwide responsibility, O’Loughlin stated: “Even if you play in opposition to folks, you get the texture for who they’re and I felt like he (Robbie) was such an excellent particular person and a teammate.

“A few of the gamers are actually top quality at membership stage, it was a pleasure attending to know them and taking part in with them for England and it was all I believed he can be on the worldwide stage: he was humble in the best way he went about his enterprise however with a stage of ability that goes underneath the radar.

“His defensive efforts and interventions are at all times talked about however what shouldn’t be at all times talked about is that he’s at all times in the appropriate place on the proper time supporting folks, his passing abilities and technical capability are world class and he’s a world-class man.

“What he has performed is unprecedented and has performed 500 video games for St Helen with such consistency and tenacity, my hat to him.”

Tommy Mackinson: Ruby is the best this sport has ever seen

Trio: St Helen captain James Robbie lifts the 2023 Premier League trophy for the third 12 months in a row alongside teammates Jonny Lomax, Morgan Knowles, Lachlan Cote, Mark Percival, Tommy Mackinson and Alex Walshmali

As he prepares to come back out in opposition to Leeds Rhinos at Headingley, Robbie’s present St Helen teammate Tommy Mackinson is having fun with the chance to hit the sphere with the Saints captain in his five hundredth sport on Friday, inserting St. Helens’ No. 9 as the perfect participant he has lined up with.

“James Robbie is the best participant I’ve ever had the prospect to play with,” MacKinson says.

“The perfect factor about him is that he’s probably the most humble and happiest man you possibly can ever want to meet.

“He has time for everybody and is at all times there for everybody who wants it.

“I like standing behind him as we stroll on the pitch and seeing his identify in entrance of me. I instantly assume he makes me and the group really feel snug understanding he’s in your group and helps you.

“He’s the best this sport has seen and I might be delighted to share him on the court docket within the five hundredth place.”

Watch all of the motion between Leeds Rhinos and St Helens on Sky Sports activities from 7.45pm on Friday, April 1.