ONLY GLORY IN FINAL WILL DO FOR HALL
DON’T ever tell Ryan Hall that Hull KR are only 80 minutes from Wembley.
The veteran England winger (above) helped Rovers into the Challenge Cup semi-finals with Saturday’s thrilling 26-14 win over holders Leigh.
Now only Huddersfield stand between them and back-to-back appearances at the national stadium.
But when reminded they are just 80 minutes away from Wembley, Robins star Hall retorted: “I hate that phrase, absolutely despise it. We are 160 minutes away from winning that trophy.
“When people say ‘let’s get to Wembley’ I just think no. That’s not the goal.
“We got to Wembley last year. And where did that end up?
“We need to WIN. We’re 160 minutes away from winning at Wembley.”
Hall has twice lifted the cup with Leeds and won the Lance Todd Trophy as man-of-the-match in the 2014 win over Castleford – so he knows the Robins must not lose focus.
Rovers were denied last year by Lachlan Lam’s golden point drop goal (circle). But Willie Peters’ side, just two points off Super League’s top spot, have strengthened.
Asked if they are in a better position to claim the cup for only the second time in their 142-year history, Hall, signed from Sydney Roosters in 2021, said: “I’d hope so as we were so close to winning last year.
“That hurt so much because of where this club’s been, where it’s come from, the journey from the ashes almost.
“When I signed, they’d won just three games the season before. To win something would be unbelievable. We came so close last year.
“I think we’re a good team. We’re qualified enough to say that.”
Even at the age of 36, the prolific wideman continues to show no signs of slowing down.
Hall is in Super League’s top-five performers this season for carries [132], metres made [1,037] and tackle busts [39]. Four tries in seven competition games has taken his tally to 244, closing in on breaking former Leeds teammate Danny McGuire’s Super League record of 247. But Hall is only bothered about the team. Rovers, who hosted club legend Phil Lowe’s funeral yesterday, visit leaders Catalans on Saturday.
The French club were surprisingly thrashed 34-6 at home by Huddersfield in the cup.
But Hall said: “I know they weren’t great there, but they are a good team.
“And our history over there is not the best.”
Rovers will be without prop Sauaso Sue as he serves a one-game ban.
Castleford front-row Sylvester Namo appears before a tribunal tonight facing a possible six games ban or longer for alleged dangerous contact after Wigan’s Willie Isa suffered a broken leg in their quarter-final clash.