Knights gear up for tough Cup tie against Warriors
HE IS now working for an estate agent rather than starring for Leeds Rhinos in Super League and is approaching his 300th career game but York City Knights’ Adam Cuthbertson’s love affair with the Challenge Cup is still as strong as ever.
Having arrived from Newcastle Knights, it was in his first season in the UK with Leeds that the Australian prop won it for the first time as they famously went on to complete the treble in 2015.
Cuthbertson lifted the Cup again with Rhinos at Wembley last year but – now aged 36 – has since moved to start playing part-time with York, the ambitious Championship club who host Wigan Warriors in the third round tonight.
“It will be really good for the club, especially being at that new stadium, and to get a Super League team there with such a history like Wigan as well,” said the front-rower, who has started working for Preston Baker estate agents in the Minster City.
“It’ll be great to have Wigan in town and I’m sure they’ll enjoy the experience over here in York.
“On top of that, it will be really good for us to see where we are as a club and how we compete with Super League teams.
“It was disappointing last week to lose like we did against Toulouse but they are a good team especially when you see the names they have on paper there.
“But Friday will be another really good test. Everyone wants to get to Wembley.”
Cuthbertson is looking forward to facing some familiar faces from his Leeds days.
“Zak (Hardaker) has been playing brilliantly this year which is great to see,” he said.
“He’s such a talent is Zak and it’s great to see him find a home at Wigan.
“And there’s Brad Singleton there, too, who I spent five years with in the front-row at Leeds.
“It’s good to see them having a really good dig over at Wigan and performing really well.”
Cuthbertson marks his 300th game with more than half of those appearances (157) coming in Leeds colours and having also represented Newcastle Knights (53), St George Illawarra (19), Cronulla Sharks (12), Manly (54) and New South Wales City (two).