LOAN STAR LUNT STAYS AT ROVERS
SUPER LEAGUE’S offload king Adam Cuthbertson has warned to expect the unexpected at Wembley tomorrow.
The Leeds Rhinos forward has been a revelation since arriving from Australia in the winter, smashing the competition’s record for passes out of the tackle.
The Rhinos’ expansive style has been central to their success this year, but Cuthbertson says they will have a few new tricks ready for Hull KR.
The 30-year-old also expects Rovers’ key man Albert Kelly to pass his fitness test this morning to add another level of unpredictability to the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup Final.
He said: “We might have a few different tactics up our sleeve. A lot of players like to play second phase footy, like Rob Burrow, Kevin Sinfield and Zak Hardaker.
“They’re all brilliant when you can get them in a bit of broken play and look to make the most of it. And with a player like Albert Kelly in their team you have to expect the unexpected.
“You can’t go out there and game plan too much because the opposite might happen. You have to go out there and not give up on any play.”
Asked about Kelly’s knee injury Cuthbertston added: “I think he’ll play. These are the sort of games you don’t want to miss out on and he’ll be doing anything he can do to get out there.”
Cuthbertson has thrived in the open environment of Super League having been forced to play a more reserved role in Australia. He added: “I probably made my name a bit from offloads.
“But I played for a few teams whose style of play wasn’t so much that way, and I had to change my role.
“It’s been great to finally get over here and it feels like a breath of fresh air. I’m just so happy that I can show I can play some footy.” HULL KR have been handed a major boost ahead of tomorrow’s Challenge Cup final with loan hooker Shaun Lunt penning a permanent deal.
The 28-year-old had attracted attention following his loan switch from H Huddersfield – but ha has committed to R Rovers for the next f four years.
Lunt (left) said: “I wanted to get the n new contract sorted be before the cup final on Satu Saturday and now I can concentrate on the game.”
Rovers coach Chris Chester said: “He’s coming into the prime of his career and he’s somebody with a pedigree of playing well in big games.”