I dont think 'Mohammed Bruce Alee' would win a fight against Roby. Have you seen the simpsons episode where Homer has a boxing career, thats Roby. The man is genetically tough. I remember seeing him in a tackle where is leg got bent allsorts of different ways, most players would have been out for months, he shook it off as if it had never happened.

I'm sure Rogues has come in saying something about old style hooking.

BUt it is true. the olden days used to be a hooker hooked. Being caught from DH with the ball was penalised. Monaghan can pass to a 2 pence piece. Roby can't.

Roby puts in Westwood-like energy. But he will one day be stopped from his scoots from Dummy half. Monaghan has never been beaten with his brain.

There are so many areas where it is difficult to tell. Many would have Roby as he is younger. Well MM has been the best for years.

I think Roby/ MM argument is like saying who's better Westwood or Lomax. 2 different players who happen to play the same position. All I'll say is, I hope Robes is good for England and get's caught out for Sts.

Explain.

err?

Westwood/Lomax?

That massive 2nd Rower Lomax vs Ben (Halfback) Westwood

Westwood for me

I think this has been nailed, it's almost not a debate as they are both clearly the best at what they do which is two different roles linked only be the number in which they carry on their back. What is also true is that currently, they are both the most significant component in their respective sides and have both taken away that mantle from the halfbacks in recent times.

Which you prefer will depend on what rugby pleases you, Roby does everything at 100 mph and with maximum impact, every 'collision' in every sense is huge. Monas has more craft & guile and looks laterally as mentioned.

They are both players I admire greatly.

that sounded awful.

I meant they are two vastly different players (Roby + Monghan) so I exaggerated saying you might as well compare WEstwood and Lomax cause they are so different.

A better example would have been Sinfield and Harrison

That is a superb example.


Meli and Penny

Roby has been one of very few players to perform well against the australians in the last 5 years of tests, so saying he would be ineffective in australia is not bourne out in practise.

Again depends

First lets all state for the record no-one is questioning Roby's talent BUT like people have said his game wouldn't suit us and Monas wouldn't suit you, would Roby's game suit the Aussie style of play?

I think this is a very good point. I'm not convinced Roby has an 'incredible rugby brain'. He has made one or two daft decisions this season: notably, when he tapped on the 20 after we'd been given a free kick for Pat Richards kicking off on the full. Against Hull he passed out to Shenton from the scrum when the scrum was way too close to the touchline to be doing that. However, those poor decisions could also be a result of too much responsibility being placed on his shoulders this season thanks to having very inexperienced to no bloody halfbacks. Still, I feel it would be more likely that we would see Gary Wheeler or Leon Pryce making the crafty plays that Keiron Cunningham used to make than James Roby. But I wouldn't be without James Roby for a millisecond if given the choice. And in our present depleted situation, James Roby is absolutely vital to Saints.


Each takes on a different role within their team, so far as I can see. Roby is metre maker and ball distributer at present but again, that's largely been forced upon him this season due to injuries. He is also a great supportive player and tackles his butt off.

Incidentally, Roby does have a kicking game. He has kicked 40:20s, he's kicked down field and he's kicked grubbers from which tries have been scored. He doesn't use his kicking game much because the halves have tended to be the kickers in the Saints team of late. But he does have one and he can use it very effectively.

Would we want it to? Maybe being so preoccupied by trying to play the Aussie style of play we have missed out on what we do best and that is play our own style of play but to a much higher standard than is usual at SL level. If we played the standard of the Good Friday Wigan-Saints match, for example, we would be a match for Australia. Australia don't play that style of game but so what? We could cause all manner of problems for them if we'd only focus on our own style, and playing that style to a very high standard. So long as we remembered to defend like our lives depended upon it, taking that approach rather than trying to beat the Aussies at their own game might be a much more effective way to go.

I was on about would he fit in if he moved to the NRL.

i really dont see the argument here.

without doubt they are both two fantastic players who are really entertaining to watch. why cant we just appreciate the talents of both, instead of deciding who is the better one and who is the loser of the two?

just accept that there both great players and we should be thankful they play in superleague.

were delighted with monas, saints are delighted with roby, end of.

Say, hypothetically, they swapped clubs - which team would be better off?

How many have won the World Cup?

Therefore, Tommy Leuluai is the best. Simples!

I think Monaghan is the best tackler we have got. Technically he is superb. if you were to show a young player how to tackle round the legs you would show them a video of Michael Monaghan.... There isnt a player he cant take down.

I think it was crusaders at home this season... first tackle of the game....from the kick off a crusaders prop ran it in and Monaghan obliterated him with his shoulder right into the meat of the thigh...he stayed down for a few mins and when he got up he was limping..... think he went off a few mins later.

Cant think of many better tacklers in the league.. if any.

Since when did you get all sensible??

Sorry. My bad. I thought you were making reference to his performances for England.

i have always been sensible

Thought this might be appropriate again

Debate over.

I really don't see why. Monaghan had a decent game, but so did Roby. On another day, with more experienced halves, his 40:20 would have been a game changer. He no doubt made a ton of metres.

It's a classic case of two equally good, but very different, players. Monaghan wouldn't improve Saints as we'd lose a 5th of our metres made. Roby has been truly inspirational for us this season. I wouldn't take Monaghan for him, and I suspect you'd say the same.

I think it's almost a case of both clubs realising that the hookers they have are that good, it's worth building the team, no, more the style of the teams play around their hookers. So, you couldn't just go and get another and them slot in and everything be okay and you couldn't just swap these two in question around.

It's why we notice that Higham is plop when he comes on, and why Moore shouldn't pass go and go straight to Jail.

We're geared up to play to Monas strengths, likewise you utilitise Roby in a way that gets the best out of him.