World Cup would be a bonus for Roby

James Gordon

St Helens hooker James Roby says he is focused on working hard for his club, but earning selection for the World Cup would be a bonus.

Roby, 31, put in a man of the match display with a brace of tries as Saints became the first team to inflict a home defeat on Castleford last Thursday.

Next up is third place Hull, as they look to consolidate a top four place.

Roby said: “We’ve won the last five, it’s a great indicator of how we’ve been playing recently and our consistency of late, but it means nothing if the one day we turn up without the right attitude or don’t prepare as well as we can.

“With the Super 8s, the pressure’s on every week it’s intensifying that little bit more on players and coaches and speccies.

“Everyones fighting to get in that top 4 ad weve just got to keep our heads keep our cool and im confident in our ability if we just work hard then we should be ok.

“I want to keep my head down, do my job week in week out for St Helens first and foremost. 

“I’m happy with the way I’m playing at the minute but I’m not going to be looking too far ahead.

“I know there’s a World Cup at the end of the year and if I get selected for that, that’s a huge bonus for me but if I don’t I don’t so i’ll just keep my head down and work hard and see what comes.”

The 2017 World Cup takes place Down Under this autumn, and England are 9/1 third favourites with betvictor.com.

Roby has earned 25 caps for England and played at both the 2008 and 2013 World Cups.

He last played for his country during the test series win over New Zealand back in 2015.

Canberra’s former Hull KR hooker Josh Hodgson and Warrington’s Daryl Clark were preferred to Roby for the 2016 Four Nations, with the former playing in the mid-season test against Samoa.