SAINTS skipper James Roby will hit a remarkable career landmark when he leads the side out against Castleford Tigers on Sunday.

The game will mark the veteran hooker’s 500th senior appearance in a combined total for club and country.

So far the former Blackbrook junior has notched up 456 games for his home town club since making his debut in March 2004, with seven caps for Great Britain and a further 36 appearances for England.

Saints boss Kristian Woolf paid tribute to the “humble, club role model” ahead of the weekend.

> This weekend's fixture changes, full details here

He said: “It is an absolutely outstanding achievement.

“You can find an argument for positions on the field for how tough they are – but I don’t think you can go too far past hooker.

“You are expected to be one of the smaller guys and be really smart, skilful – expected to come up with big plays and the other thing they have to do is tackle the biggest men on the field and be in the middle of that.

“Quite often they get targeted by the biggest men on the field so it is a really tough position as well.

“To be able to do it as long and as well as James has, deserves nothing but credit.

“It is a great achievement for him and we are happy to be a part.”

The good news for Saints is that the 34-year-old looks as though he has gained a new lease of life post lockdown with two cracking performances off the back of the work of the big men in the middle.

“He is a terrific role model.

“I look at the club as a whole and the thing that strikes me about the playing group is that for a club with a lot of success there is no ego there whatsoever and is full of really good people who are all here for the right reasons.

“When your captain and leader is as humble as he is on the back of what he has achieved it certainly sets a tone for every other player,” Woolf said.

Saints kick off at 4.15pm.