They are joined by Dan Norman, Jumah Sambou, Lewis Baxter, Dan Hill, Matty Foster, Daniel Moss, Taylor Pemberton and Wesley Bruines.

The club have announced their departures ahead of tonight’s final game of the regular season at home to Hull FC.

Roby and McCarthy-Scarsbrook had already announced their plans to retire, but the other nine will move on to pastures new.

The most high-profile one of those is Tongan test skipper Hopoate, whose tenure at the club has been his hampered by injury that has limited him to 28 appearances over the two years.

However, he has shown his quality and class on both sides of the ball when he has played – with some big moments in last year’s Magic, the 2022 Grand Final and this season’s World Club Challenge win in Australia.

His presence and influence on the squad has always been praised by coaches Kristian Woolf and Paul Wellens – and appreciated by his teammates.

Here is what the club have said of each departing player.

Our Club Captain is one of the finest players to ever grace the sport of rugby league and leaves the Saints as the Club’s all-time leader for match appearances with over 540 games played in the famous ‘Red V’.

Since debuting in 2004 at the age of 18, ‘Robes’ excelled at the top level and began earning international honours before even turning 21.

Following in the footsteps of one of the Club’s greatest-ever players Kieron Cunningham, Roby could have easily earned more than one Man of Steel Award (2007) with his herculean efforts being the norm over his incredible twenty-year playing career.

Roby has proudly represented our team and town, earning six Super League titles, eight League Leaders’ Shields, four Challenge Cups, and two World Club Challenges.

James Roby truly is The Greatest of All Time.

Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook – #1186.

The Joker in our pack, the Southern Saint, who joined the Club in 2011 and has since made this Club and the town his home over the past thirteen seasons.

Louie has made over 360 appearances for St.Helens, playing a pivotal role in our modern success on and off the field. The forward showcases a fearless attitude on the field with industrious work in the middle, never giving anything less than 100%.

A true leader who if you don’t see him, you’ll hear him… During his time in the ‘Red V’, LMS earned five Super League championships, four League Leaders’ Shields, a Challenge Cup, and a World Club Challenge title.

Luckily, the man whose name is too long will be staying local and we wish him well as he joins Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service next year.