James Roby inducted into the St Helens Hall of Fame

[Martyn Sadler]

I'm slightly surprised that no one has created a topic on the subject of James Roby's early induction into the St Helens Hall of Fame.

Here's my discussion with Jake Kearnan of a great night at St Helens at which the induction was announced.

[Damien]

A great player and well deserved.

[M j M]

What was the logic in breaking the rules to induct him?

[Click]

6 minutes ago, M j M said:

What was the logic in breaking the rules to induct him?

He's too good for the rules.

[RigbyLuger]

44 minutes ago, M j M said:

What was the logic in breaking the rules to induct him?

There isn't one really, same as O'Loughlin at Wigan.

[Dunbar]

43 minutes ago, M j M said:

What was the logic in breaking the rules to induct him?

In the Saints article on their site, it is described as a break in tradition.  I suspect there are no hard and fast rules here.

There is a degree of short termism here though.  While I believe that Roby will go down as one of the greats of our game, the Saints site describe him as the Greatest of All Time which for a club that has boasted the likes of Alex Murphy, Tom van Vollenhoven and Keiran Cunningham (among many others) is a big statement.

[Click]

3 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

In the Saints article on their site, it is described as a break in tradition.  I suspect there are no hard and fast rules here.

There is a degree of short termism here though.  While I believe that Roby will go down as one of the greats of our game, the Saints site describe him as the Greatest of All Time which for a club that has boasted the likes of Alex Murphy, Tom van Vollenhoven and Keiran Cunningham (among many others) is a big statement.

100% this, it is recency bias. It can't be helped for the most part - He will probably be judged more accurately in 20 years time (in comparison to other "GOATS" of St Helens. But then you also get less and less people who would have seen those older players live. 

A younger fan would never have seen the likes of van Vollenhoven (For example, I have seen the name written on here, but have no idea who he really is), or even younger never have seen Cunningham play so can't really compare to Roby who they have seen for the last 10 + years playing for them.

[Dunbar]

10 minutes ago, Click said:

100% this, it is recency bias. It can't be helped for the most part - He will probably be judged more accurately in 20 years time (in comparison to other "GOATS" of St Helens. But then you also get less and less people who would have seen those older players live. 

A younger fan would never have seen the likes of van Vollenhoven (For example, I have seen the name written on here, but have no idea who he really is), or even younger never have seen Cunningham play so can't really compare to Roby who they have seen for the last 10 + years playing for them.

I agree.  And I think there is a good discussion to be had here but I am also wary that it would come across as disrespectful to Roby (which it wouldn't be, but perception is king as they say) so I will say congratulations to James Roby for a well deserved honour.

[M j M]

1 hour ago, Dunbar said:

In the Saints article on their site, it is described as a break in tradition.  I suspect there are no hard and fast rules here.

There is a degree of short termism here though.  While I believe that Roby will go down as one of the greats of our game, the Saints site describe him as the Greatest of All Time which for a club that has boasted the likes of Alex Murphy, Tom van Vollenhoven and Keiran Cunningham (among many others) is a big statement.

Thanks, without looking I assumed it was similar to the specific rules of many halls of fame that a player had to be retired for five years before entering. This is the policy at the main RFL one and others e.g. the NSWRL one. At Leeds it's the reason Danny McGuire isn't in there - the exception they made was to induct Rob Burrow early.

[RigbyLuger]

2 minutes ago, M j M said:

the exception they made was to induct Rob Burrow early.

Which is/was the right thing to do. Hence why, if we're going to name something after him, and renaming the Harry Sunderland is the obvious one, we should do it now and not mess about.