SNOW JOKE FOR ELLIS’ CUP FINALE
GARETH ELLIS’ last Challenge Cup tie tomorrow will contrast sharply with one of his earliest memories of gracing the competition.
A Wembley crowd of more than 80,000 will see if Ellis, 36, and his team-mates can become the first Hull side to retain the trophy. Or if cup kings Wigan can extend their recordbreaking sequence to 20 wins.
Ellis, who retires at the end of the season to become FC’s football manager, was a cornerstone of Wakefield’s pack in 2004.
“Cup games then were played at the beginning of the season,” he recalled.
“There was a doubt whether the match could go on because it had snowed heavily.
“But we got on with it and won fairly convincingly.
“All these years later, this will be my last Challenge Cup game.” Wakefield did win “fairly convincingly” – 88-6 in front of a paltry 696 crowd.
This time Ellis will settle for an 8-6 scoreline against the Super League champions.
“It was a massive moment, lifting the cup last year,” he added. “When you are in your mid-30s you wonder if it is ever going to happen. “The goal is to go baback-to-back aand show the club has increased its level of coconsistency.” Ellis, who scored on his 450th career appearance against Huddersfield last Friday, is highly regarded in the opposition camp.
“Gaz is a legend of the game and now would be the right time to say it,” said Wigan full-back Sam Tomkins (above).
“He’s like our captain at Wigan, Sean O’Loughlin – a horrible, tough player on the field, but a true gent off it and everyone likes him.”