by Harry Dwyer
Hull KR will be hoping to lift a second consecutive Challenge Cup when they take on Wigan Warriors at Wembley on Saturday.
The two clubs met last Thursday in the Super League, where Hull annihilated Wigan 62-4, with second-row forward Rhyse Martin in fine form, converting all seven of Hull’s tries.
It will be an emotional time for Martin, who only yesterday announced that he will be retiring after the World Cup in autumn, telling the club’s website that it is “the right time to hang up his boots”.
The Warriors, meanwhile, will be looking to end their barren spell of two years without seeing silverware. For Wigan, Wembley is familiar territory. Matt Peet’s side once again arrive on the big stage carrying the expectation that comes with being the biggest club in Rugby League.
The build-up to the game has been dominated by the team news, particularly surrounding Wigan star Bevan French. The Australian stand-off has been sidelined for months with a hamstring injury, however, has been included in the Warriors’ squad, which has created intrigue on whether Peet will risk one of his best players in the biggest match of the season so far.
Wigan will have to cope without winger Liam Marshall, whose pace and finishing ability will be missed. That places even more responsibility on the shoulders of Harry Smith to control the contest with his kicking game. Smith’s battle with Hull’s talisman Mikey Lewis could ultimately decide what hands the trophy will end up in.
Hull have injury concerns of their own, with Dean Hadley fighting to be fit after suffering a hamstring problem last weekend. However, there is some optimism around the Robins’ camp. Key figures Tyrone May and Joe Burgess returned to contention last week at the perfect time for Hull.
The Warriors dismantled rivals St Helens 32-0 in the semi-finals to show their big-game pedigree, whilst Hull produced an equally impressive display defeating Warrington Wolves 32-10 en-route to Saturday’s final.
Wigan Warriors squad: French, Eckersley, Keighran, Wardle, French, Smith, Havard, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Ellis, Walters, Mago, Partington, Farrimond, Eseh Jr, Forber, McDermott, Kerr, Hodkinson.
Hull KR squad: Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess, Lewis, May, Sue, Litten, Amone, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella, Broadbent, Luckley, Whitbread, Martin, Brown, Lawton, Dezaria, Booth, Leyland.
