YOUNG Saints hooker James Roby is hoping to get a few more minutes on the park than last time he played on Challenge Cup Final day.

Although this is Roby's first senior final, both he and fellow big match debutant James Graham played in the curtain raiser prior to the 1997 Wembley showpiece.

Unfortunately, that game between St Helens schools under 11s and Batley/Dewsbury was cut short to a dozen minutes following a bomb scare.

The 20-year-old said: "We were kept in the tunnel for ages and only played about six minutes each way.

"But despite that it was still a brilliant experience, and we were all grabbing clumps of the Wembley grass afterwards and stuffing it in our pockets because we were just excited kids."

That taste of the big match, together with the coaching and encouragement he had down at Blackbrook Royals and then at Saints, has helped spur the youngster on to returning to the cup final arena nine years later for the main event.

"It has been a big year for me. It is my first final and, if picked, I will be trying to take in as much as I can," he said.

Though a substitute, the spark he gives to the side when thrown into the fray 10 minutes before half time has been one of the features of Saints' play this season.

It has not gone unnoticed and only an untimely knee injury cost him a Great Britain place earlier this season, after he had forced his way into Brian Noble's training squad.

He admits he is still learning his craft but Roby has good teachers at Knowsley Road.

"If I can carry on improving my game and getting pointers off Daniel and Keiron hopefully I will keep progressing and one day become the starting hooker.

"I am mainly a nine, but when Keiron comes back on in the second half I can fill in at half back or back row.

"Versatility is one of the plus points to my game," he said.

Representing his home-town club is a dream come true for the former Cowley pupil, who not so long ago was stood on the terraces cheering the likes of Sean Long, Paul Sculthorpe and Cunningham.

And the local hero is celebrated with an anthem dedicated to him from the terraces.

He said: "When I hear some of the songs it is great, especially when I hear my own name. It just takes me back to when I was up there myself singing all those songs when I was younger."

His presence in the side is an indication that Saints' development system is working again - with plenty of local youngsters coming on to the Knowsley Road conveyer belt.

"In the past couple of years lads have come through like Ian Hardman, James Graham and myself.

"Now there are lads like Matty Smith, Paul Clough and Scott Moore and in the younger ages even more coming through. It seems to be working - the more St Helens lads we can get playing the better," he said.