The 37-year-old captain tells Donald McRae he has ‘scars everywhere’ but is ready to fight on, with the record as the most capped Saint of all time in his sights
“I’ve played it for a long, long time,” Roby says in his quietly compelling way. “As you age you get a bit stiffer and more sore in the morning. I come into training and we’ve got lots of young lads bouncing around, without a care in the world. I walk in like I’ve just been in a car crash. I’ve got scars everywhere and I’ve probably injured every part of my body.
His immense value to Saints was obvious in Australia. Roby’s composure and experience were vital after Penrith, having been 12-0 down, drew level with just two minutes left. “I can’t remember exactly what came out of my mouth,” Roby says when asked about the words he said to his briefly dejected players. “It was along the lines of: ‘Don’t panic. I believe in us and we’re going to win this. Just keep doing what got us in a winning position.
Seven of the Penrith squad played in last year’s World Cup final and Phil Gould, the NRL pundit and general manager of the Canterbury Bulldogs, was. Asked to predict Penrith’s winning margin, Gould said: “They should be able to declare by half-time.” James Roby, pictured being tackled against Penrith Panthers this month, says of the sport’s risks: ‘If you play long enough it’s highly likely you’re going to have some sort of [brain] damage.’James Graham, his great friend and former Saints teammate whom he first played alongside as a kid, is the same age as Roby. Graham was a great prop who had eight successful years in the NRL as well but, after he retired in 2020,which indicated abnormalities.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Disclaimer added to James Bond novels after racist language removed by publishersThe James Bond novels have become the latest book series to remove offensive language after Puffin backflipped on its decision to edit Roald Dahl's work.
Read more »
Ashok Jacob to step down as Ellerston CIO; Keelan takes the reinsAshok Jacob, a former Kerry Packer confidant and trusted lieutenant to James, is poised to hand over the investment team’s reins at Australian funds manager Ellerston Capital.
Read more »
‘My dad wanted to be James Bond. He nearly killed us both’: actor and writer Katy WixKaty Wix had a difficult relationship with her dad. But after a near-fatal car accident, they found themselves growing closer
Read more »
It’s the camaraderie and endorphins that keep this CEO hookedUnlike many mad-keen cyclists, Regis Resources non-executive chairman James Mactier owns just two entry-level bikes, and that will do him just fine, he says.
Read more »
Ohio train disaster reveals attitude of ‘woke American media’Sky News host James Morrow says the attitudes of the Democrats and “the high priests of the woke American media” have been revealed by the train disaster in East Palestine, Ohio. Mr Morrow's comments come after former president Donald Trump visited the town of the disaster before any Democrats. “Trump had to go and have the ‘bad taste’ to show that the Democrats don’t even pretend to care,” Mr Morrow said.
Read more »