JAMES Roby was not short of offers and appreciation from Down Under - so no doubt there were a few surprised looks when he opted to stick with his hometown team and commit to spending the next five years in the red vee.

But he revealed his family came first in deciding his future, adding that NRL is not the be all and end all as far as he is concerned.

Roby told the Star: “I had a few options and I took a bit of time talking it over with the family and a few other people.

“But deep down I always knew that I was stopping in St Helens.

“I am happy where I am.

“You have to take a lot of stuff into consideration – like being married with two kids.

“If I didn’t have kids maybe my approach would have been different but in my eyes the NRL is not everything.

“People talk as if it is the Holy Grail of rugby and that you have to go there to test yourself, but I am not bothered about that.

“I am happy where I am and NRL does not appeal to me as much as it does to others.

“The right decision for me and my family was to stay at St Helens.

“It is sorted now and that takes me to the end of my career.

“It is awkward negotiating because you have to try and get the best deal for yourself and your family but there are no ill feelings.

“The club have been great and have been very supportive of me and my testimonial as well.”