SAINTS skipper James Roby's brace of tries in Thursday night's emphatic win over Wakefield brought up his century of Super League scores.

Having caught the eye the previous week with his lung-busting, 60 tackles in 80 minutes, Roby showed he still has that eye for the try.

Remarkably his brace of scores were the hooker's first in the Super League since the try in London on 9 June 2019.

And his first, from an amazing Jack Welsby offload, set the tone for a very different Saints performance.

Coach Kristian Woolf was again quick to offer his praise for the club captain.

"He's an exceptional player and exceptional person and he really leads from the front, by example," Woolf said.

"He is not a bloke who feels he needs to talk all the time, but when he does talk it carries some weight and everyone stops and listens.

"That is is because of the actions he backs it up with all of the time."

This week Roby had the luxury of being spelled on 55 minutes, by which stage the job was done.

Woolf explained the importance of managing the 34-year-old's game time, particularly ahead of the busy finale.

"It is great to have him on the team.

"He can play 80 at a pinch but it is probably best if we don't play him for that length of time because it does become fatiguing.

"He has no dramas doing it, and come up with the big plays as well - and that is the sign of a really good player," Woolf said.

Woolf was asked to make comparison with Melbourne Storm's Australian test number nine Cameron Smith.

"They are very similar," Woolf said.

"In terms of longevity they have both been at the top of their games for a very long time and even though they are getting to the ends of their careers, James has a bit to go yet.

"They are both dominant in those positions because they are so smart and so consistent."