SEVEN-try Saints produced an exemplary display to leap into the play-off semi finals with a confidence that made a mockery of their much discussed key absences.

Although it was magnificent one to 17 effort, two-try James Roby in particular stood out for the Saints as they systematically took Castleford apart.

Beforehand, Nathan Brown had suggested that full strength Castleford would start as favourites – but that was not the way the story played out.

His Saints charges did not give the cup finalist as much as a sniff with the big men controlling the middle allowing Roby to produce a masterclass.

It was yet another top drawer display from the world class number nine that puts him up there in the running for the Man of Steel award.

Saints’ midfield dominance in turn allowed Saints to produce a spot-on kicking game from Roby, Jordan Turner, Lance Hoahaia and converted half Mark Flanagan.

With Dream Team hooker Daryl Clark watching from the bench, Roby got the Saints ball rolling with a smartly taken close try from dummy half on 19 minutes.

Roby doubled his – and Saints’ - tally seven minutes later and they were unfortunate that a Turner drop goal was their only further score of the half.

Double unfortunate givem that Tommy Makinson had a perfectly good try chalked off for a forward pass that would have ended it before the break.

As it was, it did not matter because Turner was sent on a free run up the middle seven minutes after the break.

Even when Cas looked certain to score – like when Michael Channing crossed – Roby was there to foil him on the line.

Saints run away with it in the last 15 minutes with Adam Swift intercepting Liam Finn’s pass to race 70 metres to cross.

Then after ex-Saint Michael Shenton had been sin-binned for a professional fould stopping Paul Wellens from scoring, the other wing Makinson collected the floated pass from the impressive Mark Pervcival to push the score along.

Close range efforts from Kyle Amor and Mose Masoe, who both barrelled their way over – gave the scoreboard an emphatic look and sparked joyous scenes at Langtree Park – complete with League Leaders Shield.

The win buys Saints next week off – and then they will be able to pick from whoever is left from Catalan, Leeds, Warrington, Widnes or Castleford in the semi a week on Thursday.