Wembley still ultimate goal

CHALLENGE Cup semi-finals with no crowds will certainly be different for the players – but if you can’t find extra motivation for this you shouldn’t be playing.

It will be strange for them not having that enthusiasm, energy and noise from the stands, but they have to find a way past that. Leeds v Wigan kicks the day off – and has been one of biggest rivalries of the Super League era.

I was very impressed with Wigan in the last round against Hull – they executed a gameplan designed to win knock-out football perfectly. Leeds have the capabilities to beat Wigan but know they will have to play exceptionally well.

The key players will be in the halves – Jac Jackson Hastings (left) for the W Warriors and Luke Gale (left below) at the Rhinos.

I like half-backs with egos and these are the kind of guys that want to play in the biggest occasions.

In the other game, what a story. Salford are 80 minutes away from their second final in the space of 12 months. It speaks volumes about Ian Watson and the club’s ability to recruit the right players. When you watch them play they are more than the sum of their parts, which is the sign of a good coach.

Warrington, the holders, are littered with stars. They played in the game of the season against St Helens in the quarterfinals, and were superb that day.

If they reach those heights again they will be difficult to beat.

I’m going to go with a Leeds-Warrington final, but unfortunately I won’t be able to watch either match as I’ll be undertaking the biggest challenge I’ve ever done.

Around that time I’ll be running an ultra marathon covering 33 miles with 7,000ft of climbing involved for my old team-mate Rob Burrow – you can donate here: https:// www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ jpandsd4rb