Walmsley is big threat to Tigers
Chance to exorcise painful memories as HKR plot return
MAN OF STEEL Danny Houghton says Hull FC’s desire for Challenge Cup glory has only grown after winning the trophy last season.
They begin the defence of their title when injury-ravaged Catalans Dragons arrive at the KCOM Stadium tonight.
Hooker Houghton, who pulled off a crucial try-saving tackle IT will be impossible for those Hull KR players involved in that infamous ‘Million-Pound Game’ against Salford Red Devils not to recollect the painful event when the sides meet for the first time since in tonight’s Challenge Cup sixth round tie.
Of course, they have not faced each other following that epic fixture last October namely because they are now in different divisions; Rovers’ extra-time golden point loss saw them relegated and their rivals, crucially, remained in Super League.
It was a shock to all concerned at the time as the East Yorkshire club were eight points ahead going into the final 90 seconds of normal time, their safety seemingly all but assured.
What happened next will go down in rugby league folklore as undaunted Salford – with back-toback tries – produced one of the most remarkable turnarounds to not only draw level but then claim victory with Gareth O’Brien’s wondrous 50m drop goal.
Asked if the memory is still painful, Maurice Blair, one of just four KR players who featured then and also set to line up at the AJ Bell Stadium this evening, conceded: “Yes, when I do think of it now most of it is pretty raw still.
“It was a bad time. But we just have to move past it. It’s done and dusted and we’ve got a new challenge ahead of us.
“As bad as it was to lose the way we did, this is another step playing in the Championship as we are.”
Indeed, Rovers have acclimated well to life in the second tier, winning 12 of their 13 games as they plot their way back.
That, and having retained the bulk of their Super League stars, is why many people believe they can gain some small revenge tonight by springing a shock to force their way into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals.
Tim Sheens’s side have already beaten one top-flight side to reach this point, winning 23-10 at Leigh Centurions, the promoted side who took their place among the elite.
Granted, Salford are a different entity; despite dicing so close with relegation last term, they are third, having won nine of their 13 matches to emerge as surprise challengers.
Blair, the experienced Australian in the 12-10 Wembley victory against Warrington, said: “After that success and the memories created, it’s something you definitely want to do again and again.
“There’s no better game than the Challenge Cup final and after watching it as a boy it was a dream come true. But it’s in the past now and you have to start again. That’s what we’re aiming to do.”
With 11 first-team players injured, Catalans, who won at Hull earlier in the season, were only able to name an 18-man squad on back-row, insisted: “I’m not really surprised by that.
“They started in that sort of form last year before dropping off while they had that points deduction, too, for the salary cap as well.
“They look again.
“It will be a good marker to see where we are at and a good test.
“We had a good win against Batley on Sunday and have just been working on a bit of consistency through the year.
“We played Leigh in the last game of the Challenge Cup and proved we can still stick with the best teams in Super League.
“This week will be another chance to do that and we are starting to gel as a team now.
“But, obviously, Salford are running high, just two points off like they’ve improved Wednesday and a raft of youngsters could feature this evening.
But Houghton, who returned in Sunday’s 33-22 victory at Widnes Vikings after missing six games with a calf problem, said: “It’s irrelevant really for us.
“We need to get our own house in order. If we can replicate what we did in that second half at Widnes (they trailed 22-4 at halftime) I’m sure we’ll have enough.
“It was exciting. With some of the magic plays people like Albert Kelly and Mahe Fonua are coming the top of Super League, and had a lot of good wins so we need to step up again.
“They have threats all over, not just at half-back with Michael Dobson, Robert Lui and Todd Carney, but in the back-row, too.
“Ben Murdoch-Masilia and Ryan Lannon are pretty strong runners with the ball and we’ll probably have to put in our best defensive performance of the year to come away with the win. It should be a good game.”
Blair, 32, won Rovers’ playerof-the-year up with, they’re getting us out of dirty situations and over the line.
“There’s a real togetherness about this squad, too, and that goes a long way to getting us wins.
“But when sides are struggling for numbers like Catalans it can be a banana skin, kids coming in wanting to prove a point.”
Houghton, who will welcome over 20 previous ‘Man of Steel’ winners to his testimonial dinner at KCOM Stadium on July 9, admitted: “It’s been frustrating watching. I’ve never had to do it award last season and could easily have found another top-flight club after relegation.
However, he was one of the first squad members to re-commit and signed a new deal until the end of 2018, giving them a significant lift at such a troubled, uncertain time.
“It didn’t really take too long to decide,” explained the combative former Melbourne Storm player, now in his third season after joining from Gold Coast Titans.
“Once we’d lost that game and, being part of that, I wanted to be a part of it getting back up to where we belong.
“I think I’d decided within a week.”
The impact of the revered Sheens, too, has been significant.
The former Australia chief was Salford director of rugby when it I’d stay for as long as that before and you think you can still do everything; you’re always the best player when sat in the stands.
“It was a bit daunting coming back on that (artificial) pitch (at Widnes). We did some training on one during the week but it was always at the back of my mind so I was glad to get through fine.
“I was named in the 19-man squad for Castleford but that was always touch and go and it was probably the best call in the long run we waited a little longer.” was announced last September that he would be joining Rovers as head coach in 2017.
When it emerged the sides would face each other in the ‘Million-Pound Game’, he stood down in the week building up to that pivotal fixture but, when Rovers duly lost, he, too, pledged to still take up his role at Craven Park.
Sheens makes his first return to Salford tonight and Blair – who played at Wembley with Rovers in their 2015 Challenge Cup final loss to Leeds Rhinos – said: “He’s been really good for us.
“I’ve been very impressed since he came here and he’s increased the professionalism throughout the whole club.
“He’s working really well with our young boys who are a learning a lot, too, and it’s putting us in the right direction.”
Prop Gadwin Springer admits his side must do a “big job” on St Helens’s Alex Walmsley tomorrow.
The Super League leaders face Saints in the televised Challenge Cup sixth round tie at Wheldon Road.
Front-row Walmsley has been one of the form players so far, making more metres and carries than anyone else in the league before missing last week’s round due to international duty.
However, having travelled to Sydney, the former Batley Bulldogs player was left out of England’s game against Samoa so, frustratingly, must wait for his Test debut.
Springer, 24, said: “He is going to be disappointed as he didn’t play then. He’ll be ready to go this week now and we have to do a big job on him as he is going very well so far this year.
“But we’re looking forward to this; it’s going to be a massive game and, being the Cup, it’s different to Super League.”
The France international has started just six of Castleford’s 13 games, with four appearances coming off the bench as he continues to try and make himself a regular.
“I just try to do my best to catch Daryl’s eye to see if I can play longer minutes,” said Springer. “But we’ve got people like Grant Millington, Junior Moors, Nathan Massey and Jesse (Sene-Lefao) and everyone’s playing well.
“It’s tough but I just need to keep practicing and, if I only have 10 or 20 minutes, make sure I do my best in that time.”
With the England team now back on home soil, coach Daryl Powell makes four changes to last week’s squad. Keiran Gill, Kevin Larroyer, Tom Holmes and Joel Monaghan miss out, making way for Zak Hardaker, Luke Gale, Mike McMeeken and Ben Roberts.
“We will have some late calls this week. Rangi Chase injured his neck last week and Ben Roberts missed the game so we’ll have to check on him,” said Powell.