THE SHAUL OF FAME
Jamie goes from teen fan to final star
THE last time Hull FC lifted the Challenge Cup, Jamie Shaul was in the stands dreaming of emulating his favourite player Gareth Raynor.
A teenage Shaul travelled to Cardiff in 2005 to see the Black and Whites edge out Leeds 25-24 in a thrilling climax to the last truly memorable final.
Eleven years on and the 24-year-old is preparing for his second final as a player, having started on the losing side against Wigan in 2013. Shaul said: “I remember it very clearly – I went down to Cardiff with my mum and dad. It was very dramatic.
“Cookey (stand-off Paul Cooke) pulled something out of the bag and when he scored that try it was unbelievable.
“It was just a great day and occasion. Being a little lad you always dream about playing in big games yourself.
“To be able to replicate that at Wembley and lift the trophy myself is scary to think about.”
Not long before the 2013 final Shaul had faced an uncertain future, shipped out on dual registration to York and struggling to get a regular game. But an injury to Shannon McDonnell gave him his chance, and this year he has sparkled under coach Lee Radford. He added: “When ‘Radders’ got the coaching job he said he wanted me to be his full-back for the next four or five years.
“It had been weird not playing, and then to sign an extension was a bit surreal.
“Lee has always been good with me, and I feel if it wasn’t for him I might not have got the fulltime deal in the first place.”