St Helens duo James Roby and Scott Moore ready to fill Keiron Cunningham's boots

By Sportsmail Reporter
Updated: 08:46 EST, 1 February 2011

St Helens have two international hookers ready to help fill the void as they prepare for life after Keiron Cunningham.

The 34-year-old Cunningham, one of only a handful of players to appear in all 15 seasons of Super League, hung up his boots after October's Grand Final.

New Saints coach Royce Simmons has yet to reveal Cunningham's successor as captain but the other decision was made for him, with the luxury of having two England players to share the hooking role.

James Roby and Scott Moore have played for their country but, at 25 and 23 respectively, still have their best years ahead of them and both are excited, as well as humbled, at the prospect of following in the footsteps of a legend.

Roby, the 2007 Man of Steel who was one of the successes of England's Four Nations campaign in the autumn, has played second fiddle to Cunningham since making his debut for his home-town club seven years ago and, of his 203 appearances, 131 have been from the bench.

'It's obviously going to be different, being handed the number nine shirt and starting games, and I'm really looking foward to it,' he said.

'There will be added responsibility following a player like Keiron, who is obviously a legend in the game, and I suppose people are always going to compare me and Keiron but I'll be just concentrating on playing my own game.

'If I can do that, hopefully I will go okay. Starting games this year should help me improve. I've definitely got a lot to learn.'

Moore, too, concedes he is still learning the game and both players will still be able to benefit from Cunningham's experience.

The popular former Wales and Great Britain ace will become a permanent fixture at the club's new stadium later this year when a bronze statue of him is moved from the town centre and, in the meantime, he is in the flesh on the Saints' coaching staff.

'Kez is just about at every session we do and he takes a lot of the strength and conditioning,' said Moore.

'It's really good to be able to ask him little things. He's had 15 years in the top flight and has been the best nine over here ever probably.

'He has left some big boots for me and James to fill but it's a task I'm going to relish. I'm just trying to make my own stamp on things, get myself in the team and play some minutes.'

Moore, who rejoined St Helens a year ago after successful loan spells at Castleford and Huddersfield, found it difficult to secure a place in the team in 2010 and endured the agony of missing out on the Grand Final.

'I didn't get picked for one match and then I broke my hand the week after in training," he said.

'It was a tough year for me, playing in numerous positions I hadn't played before, but I knew full well I wouldn't play as many games as I wanted because of Keiron and James. It was my decision to come back and I don't regret last year.

'It feels like I've been around longer than a conker tree but I turned 23 the other day so I'm still pretty young.'