Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CUNNING PLAN
It’s kids’ stuff as Jodie eyes more success with old school pal Emily
JODIE CUNNINGHAM is ready to realise more childhood dreams with best friend Emily Rudge when the new Women’s Super League season kicks off.
St Helens and England captain Cunningham, 32, is one of the most recognisable and highly-rated players in the women’s game.
Last season she and team-mate Rudge helped Saints to an historic Challenge Cup win over Leeds Rhinos in the first women’s final to be played at Wembley.
It was a fairytale moment and loose forward Cunningham said: “I remember being stood at Wembley, waiting to lift the trophy, and I wanted Emily to do it with me because we’ve been through it all together.
“We had spoken about that being the ultimate dream but probably never thought it would happen.
“So to share that with her was incredible and there’s a moment, just before we lift the Challenge Cup, that we look at each other and say ‘Oh my God, we’ve done it’.
“There are regular pinch-me moments but that topped everything. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.”
The pair (right, with Rudge on the left) became close friends at Cardinal Newman Catholic High School in Warrington.
Cunningham recalled: “Emily encouraged us to set up a girls rugby league team at school and then actually convinced me to give it a go.
“I owe her a lot because I wouldn’t have played the sport if it wasn’t for Rudgey.
“We played all the schools finals together, lifted four national trophies at school, and then started our own girls team with my dad and Emily’s dad.
“We became national champions at club level for our Warrington’s girls team. By the age of 17, we were both playing together internationally for England.
“Now we have both had the opportunity to captain our country and play together for many years for St Helens and England.
“We’ve then gone on to lift all these trophies at club level and played for England together in World Cups, so it feels like a dream.”
St Helens face Huddersfield Giants in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals on Saturday and open their Super League campaign at York Valkyrie at champions York Valkyrie on April 21.