14 pages of Wire content ahead of cup final in this week's Warrington Guardian
DON'T miss out on your bumper Warrington Wolves coverage in today's paper as the excitement builds for Saturday's Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.
There are 14 pages of Wire coverage, eight of which are in the souvenir pull-out supplement.
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And the sports section at the back of the edition is rammed with interview content gathered this week from players and coaches.
It really is a brilliant read, full of news, views and nostalgia too, whether you're going to be heading to Wembley or watching on TV from home.
We would suggest this week's WG is a perfect travel partner for your trip down to London if you've not already completed it by then.
And to stay in touch with events over the weekend, warringtonguardian.co.uk and our social media channels will have everything covered for you - including tomorrow's Wire walkabout and Captain's Run at Wembley plus all the activity as cup final day itself unfolds.
Come on The Wire, we're behind you, bring that trophy home!
💛💙🏆💛💙
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Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Warrington and Hull KR battle for cup supremacy
George Williams' (left) Warrington Wolves will contest the Challenge Cup final for the second season in a row but will need to overcome Elliot Minchella's (right) in-form Hull KR [SWPix] Betfred Men's Challenge Cup final - Warrington Wolves v Hull KR Venue: Wembley Stadium Date: Saturday, 7 June Kick-off: 15:00 BST Coverage: Live on BBC One from 14:00 BST; commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3 and BBC Radio Merseyside and BBC Radio Humberside; live text on BBC Sport website & app Advertisement The Challenge Cup makes its return to the capital with three games taking place under the Wembley arch on a glorious day of rugby league. After the curtain is brought down on this season's women's competition, the men take to the field as Warrington Wolves face Hull KR. But will Sam Burgess win his first trophy as a head coach and lead Warrington to a 10th victory in the competition? Or will Super League leaders Hull KR continue their ascent into the echelons of northern hemisphere rugby league with a first Challenge Cup in almost half a century? BBC Sport has taken a look at what is at stake. Advertisement "I try not to get caught up in the fantasy land stuff. I just stay in the moment. We know the challenge in front of us and we know they're a good side. We've got to work on getting a good performance out. "If you ask me that question after the game, I might give you a different answer. For now I'll just stay in the present moment." It is fair to say that Burgess is not losing sleep over the fact he has a winless record as a player and coach at Wembley. Warrington were on the losing side under Burgess in last season's final, as they were defeated by eventual quadruple winners Wigan Warriors. Advertisement Meanwhile as a player, Burgess started for England in their losing 2013 Rugby League World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. Burgess said he has learned a lot from his 18 months as a head coach, including plenty from his most recent experience at the national stadium. "There were a couple of things I got, I wouldn't say wrong, but we could have been better in a few areas. It won't happen twice in a row with those things," he said. "Whether there's a difference in outcome we'll see. Any bit of experience you can get, it was my first year as a head coach and I learned plenty." Advertisement For Willie Peters' Hull KR, the sky is the limit, having dazzled in Super League this season. Peters has led his side to the Challenge Cup final for the second time in three seasons but has been on the losing side in both the 2023 final and last season's Super League Grand Final. He said that his side have had a difficult time maintaining their impressive form having set up Saturday's trip to Wembley almost a month ago. "It's a difficult period for the players because there's no doubt they would have been thinking about this game three weeks ago," Peters told BBC Sport. Advertisement "But where I can see the growth in the side is that they are able to put it aside and go after each Super League game, because any team that plays us knows they have to play well, but they are also going after us to beat us because we are at the top of the table at the moment. "We know that every team is going to come to try to knock us off." Hull KR have lost only once in all competitions this season - against Wigan in Super League - but have still set the pace among their rivals this term. But Peters knows that it would prove that his side have broken into the top tier of clubs in Super League if they were able to turn their form into winning a trophy. Advertisement "So what the players have done in being able to handle what goes into it and around a Challenge Cup final and putting it aside, they've done a remarkable job because it can be difficult," he added. "Now it's about just focusing on this week and getting this week right, which is different again because you can't get this one wrong." Hull KR's most recent triumph in the Challenge Cup came in 1980 when they beat city rivals Hull FC in a narrow 10-5 affair at Wembley. Now, a new generation of Robins players stand on the cusp of adding a second Challenge Cup final victory to their history. Advertisement Second-rower James Batchelor started for the Robins in their most recent Challenge Cup final in 2023 but was on the losing side against Leigh Leopards that day. He moved to KR from Wakefield Trinity ahead of the 2023 season and believes his career has prospered since leaving his hometown club. "I made a decision that I thought would help me grow as a player, as tough as that decision was, and I feel vindicated in that now," Batchelor told BBC Sport. "Moving away from my home town I've definitely grown as a person, and the faith that Willie has put in me in all that time has helped me grow as a player as well." Advertisement As for the prestige of playing at Wembley, Batchelor said that the sheen of taking to the field loses its lustre if you cannot bring home the win. "Yes, Wembley has a lot of history behind it but if you don't get the win it doesn't really matter and you're not too bothered about where you've played," he added. "So I'm more just focused on the game and doing the job like we do every week and getting it done. You can sit and enjoy it afterwards." Team news Unsurprisingly, Warrington Wolves name captain George Williams in their squad after he declared his fitness earlier this week. Advertisement Also, full-back Arthur Mourgue is missing from the Hull KR line-up as he is cup-tied having moved to Craven Park from Catalans Dragons after the start of this season. Warrington (from): Williams, Yates, Tai, Vaughan, Powell, Ratchford, Harrison, Fitzgibbon, Lindop, Wrench, Holroyd, Sneyd, Currie, King, Crowther, Russell, Philbin, Josh Thewlis, Jake Thewlis, Dufty, Wood. Hull KR (from): Davies, Hiku, Burgess, Lewis, May, Sue, Litten, Waerea-Hargreaves, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella, McIlorum, Luckley, Whitbread, Broadbent, Richardson, Tanginoa, Brown, Doro, Leyland, Horne.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
What Sam Burgess says it will take for Wire to leave Wembley victorious
WARRINGTON Wolves are heading to Wembley as underdogs – of that, there cannot be much doubt. Whether it's the pundits, the bookmakers, general observers or even large sections of their own fanbase, you will not find too many willing to give Sam Burgess' side any more than a puncher's chance against Hull KR in the Challenge Cup Final. Advertisement Indeed, the Super League-leading Robins are a whopping 2-7 on with competition sponsors Betfred to finally end their 40-year wait for a major trophy. There is good reason for that – Rovers have won all but one of their 16 matches in all competitions this season including a 31-12 victory at The Halliwell Jones Stadium just a fortnight ago while The Wire have been inconsistent and come into the game with several star players either injured or drastically short of match fitness. And yet, there is an internal belief that, in similar fashion to the last time they lifted the Challenge Cup in 2019 by stunning a heavily favoured St Helens side, Warrington can ensure that whenever Burgess' tenure as head coach ends, it will do so with at least one glorious memory. However, he is acutely aware of the task facing his side and outlined exactly what it is going to take for them to come out on top. Advertisement Warrington were beaten by Wembley opponents Hull KR in Super League just a fortnight ago (Image: Richard Walker) 'They're deservedly heavy favourites,' Burgess said. 'We have to be good because they're not going to beat themselves. They're really consistent, so we have to be on our game. 'All of our players are going to have to be at least an eight or nine out of 10 and when our moments and opportunities come, we have to take them. 'That's what I think the game will come down to on Saturday – who takes their moments. 'Traditionally, they start hot but I thought we handled that in the first half the other week so we could get a bit of confidence out of that. Advertisement 'We'll have to manage them early again – there's no doubt about that.' This is, of course, not the first time Warrington have stood on the very brink of silverware since Burgess took the reins at the start of last year. Twelve months ago, they found themselves in this very position having made much more serene progress through the campaign but the stage proved just too big for a side just returning to contention for honours as the winning machine that is Wigan Warriors won out at Wembley. For many, that was their first experience at Wembley and one they will be keen to turn the page on. Now, they have the perfect opportunity to do so. Advertisement Sam Burgess applauds the Warrington fans following last year's Wembley defeat to Wigan Warriors (Image: John Walton/PA Wire) 'We're looking forward to going back,' Burgess said. 'We've had a tough run in the cup with some great games – we're proud of getting here but we've still got a load of work to do. 'KR are a fantastic side who have dominated everyone they've played against really so we know we've got a tough task but we're looking forward to it. 'Last year was like smooth sailing but this year has been much more challenging. 'There's been a number of things on and off the field – making hard decisions and losing players at key times – that have really made me think about things coaching-wise, but I've enjoyed that side of it. Advertisement 'I'm learning a bit more and the group are learning more about each other as well. 'This weekend is another chance for us to grow as a group, for the club to go forwards and for me to grow as a coach.' Burgess is all too aware that opportunities to win trophies do not come around often, for the playing career that marked him out as a modern-day great contained just one final victory – a memorable 2014 NRL Premiership with South Sydney Rabbitohs having played virtually the entire Grand Final with a fractured cheekbone. Winning a first trophy as a head coach would make headlines on both sides of the globe, but it is clear he is not allowing himself to dream. Advertisement 'There's a lot of hard work to be done between now and the final hooter on Saturday,' he said. 'I try not to live in 'fantasy land.' I try and stay in the present. 'Any chance of winning silverware is important so it will mean something for sure. 'As a player, you're actually really selfish but as a coach, your vision is so much wider on so many different things. 'You can draw on certain experiences from playing that you thing might help the group, but what might work for me might not work for everyone.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
14 pages of Wire content ahead of cup final in this week's Warrington Guardian
DON'T miss out on your bumper Warrington Wolves coverage in today's paper as the excitement builds for Saturday's Challenge Cup Final at Wembley. There are 14 pages of Wire coverage, eight of which are in the souvenir pull-out supplement. Advertisement And the sports section at the back of the edition is rammed with interview content gathered this week from players and coaches. It really is a brilliant read, full of news, views and nostalgia too, whether you're going to be heading to Wembley or watching on TV from home. We would suggest this week's WG is a perfect travel partner for your trip down to London if you've not already completed it by then. And to stay in touch with events over the weekend, and our social media channels will have everything covered for you - including tomorrow's Wire walkabout and Captain's Run at Wembley plus all the activity as cup final day itself unfolds. Come on The Wire, we're behind you, bring that trophy home! 💛💙🏆💛💙
