St Helens captain James Roby plans on downing NRL premiers Penrith - while working out what he’s going to do with the rest of his life.
The iconic hooker, 37, shelved plans to retire last year so he could enjoy more potential glory nights like tomorrow’s World Club Challenge in Sydney. But after more than 500 games for his beloved Saints, he definitely won’t perform another U-turn so has to get plans in place. The trophy-laden ex-Great Britain star said: “That’s my job this year alongside rugby - to sort out what’s next.
“I’ve a few avenues I want to explore but nothing’s set in stone. Part of me wants to stay involved in rugby league and maybe with this club. But really there's a part of me that wants something totally different and completely new. It’s exciting but quite scary, too. It’s a big change for me and my family.
"For example, if I got offered a job which means travelling away, I’ve always lived locally, just a stone’s throw away from the training ground. I’ve never even had a commute. I don‘t think I'd like to travel sitting in a car!”
Four-peat Super League champions Saints have gone the distance, though, to take on the might of Penrith on the other side of the world.
They know it’ll take a mammoth task to down the back-to-back NRL winners who have World Cup stars Nathan Cleary, Stephen Crichton and Jarome Luai all lining up. Saints have never triumphed in Australia and Roby was just 21 when he helped them last win the World Club Challenge in 2007.
He recalled: “We beat a star-studded Brisbane side at Bolton and I’d never been involved in one before. But we went into that as underdogs, like we are this time, too. They had Darren Lockyer, Karmichael Hunt, Darius Boyd, Petero Civoniceva… It was a fantastic team and a really good game but I remember the crossfield kick which Ade (Gardner) caught to win it.
"It was just brilliant. It’s only now you realise only one team gets the chance to represent our nation in this and how special it is to go on and win. I’ve nothing but great memories of it. We know the Aussies are always fantastic teams and over here it’ll be a real challenge in their own backyard. But I'm confident our side can perform. And put in a good performance to get it done again.”
