ELLIS VOWS TO BEAT BIG FINAL FEAR
GARETH ELLIS fears Wembley could get the better of him unless he reins in his emotions.
The skipper will lead Hull out against Wigan in his last Challenge Cup Final before retiring at the end of the season.
It’s an occasion that the 36-year-old forward admits could overwhelm him if he’s not careful.
He said: “It pulls on the heart strings a bit, knowing I will not get this opportunity again.
“But it is important not to get too carried away with it and just do what I do and all the good points of my game.
“I have played in big occasions before and sometimes they get the better of you and I’m sure that would be easy this weekend, with it being my last.
“So it is a challenge for me to do what is good for the benefit of the team. I have experienced winning and losing and certainly know what’s best.”
Ellis was in the Hull team that lost 16-0 to Wigan in 2013 but beat Warrington 12-10 last year – Hull’s first-ever win at Wembley.
Hull left out Scott Taylor, Jamie Shaul and Albert Kelly, as a precaution, for last Friday’s 46-18 defeat by Huddersfield.
Mahe Fonua, Steve Michaels and Mark Minichiello also picked up knocks in the Super 8s fixture.
But coach Lee Radford said they are now all fit and he has already told his squad which players have got the nod for Saturday’s big game.
He said: “I wanted to ® get it out to them nice and early, and after last Friday it was really easy to name the side for Wembley.
“It has definitely been easier than last year because we have not been as consistent this campaign.
“Last year it was really tough because two or three players missed out who had performed really well throughout the season, but that is not the case this year.” When Radford reveals his squad later on this week, Jordan Thompson, Jansin Turgut and Michaels are all expected to miss the cut, with Jake Connor in line to be dropped to the bench.
Wigan are expected to be at full strength for the first time this season, to the delight of coach Shaun Wane.
He said: “We have been able to train with the right players in the right positions, which we’ve not been able to do all year.
“After the win last Friday, I was the happiest that I’ve been for a few years, but we know it’s going to be tough against Hull.”