SAINTS DECLINE WALKABOUT
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:44 pm
SAINTS DECLINE WALKABOUT
Challenge Cup holders St Helens are to break with tradition by declining to make the customary eve-of-final walkabout at Wembley.
Saints coach Daniel Anderson took the decision after a straw poll of his players in the build-up to Saturday's showdown with Hull.
"With all due respect, if there is a walkabout group, it will be very small," he said.
"It takes about two hours out of your day by the time you drive there and back. We're in the same dressing rooms as last year and we're pretty comfortable with our knowledge there."
It has been tradition for the last 40 years for the finalists to undertake the walkabout 24 hours before the big game and the Rugby Football League have expressed their disappointment over St Helens' decision.
"We can understand their reason but it is disappointing because it is an opportunity to raise the profile of the game nationally," said RFL communications manager Craig Spence.
Hull will make their tour of the national stadium mid-morning and Saints, who are aiming to win the cup for a third successive year, were due to follow them at lunchtime.
"It's our choice," insisted Saints captain Keiron Cunningham, who will be making his eighth Challenge Cup final appearance.
"You can't tell me going to a walkabout at Wembley is going to make you play better the day after.
"It's a decision we've made as a group of players. We have been fortunate to play there last year and it's the same circumstances. I can't see it being beneficial to the team."
Long-serving full-back Paul Wellens also supported the decision, saying: "We've been to the stadium and it's the same dressing rooms as last year.
"I think it will probably benefit the players to get away from it the day before the game and just relax their minds so they are not constantly thinking about the game.
"The game is never far away from your mind in the build-up and walking around Wembley would probably sap the energy thinking about it.
"I think a lot of the guys would prefer to stay at the hotel and put their feet up. It's down to people's personal preference rather than a group choice.
"We are preparing as well as we've prepared for any game this year. I can assure people we are not being blas about it. We're leaving no stone unturned in our preparation."
Meanwhile, New Zealand prop Jason Cayless was an anticipated absentee when Anderson named his initial 19-man squad.
The experienced front rower will be sidelined until the start of the Super League play-offs because of knee ligament damage sustained in Sunday's 40-22 win at Huddersfield.
The squad includes England's Samoa-born prop Maurie Fa'ake Cayless' place, while club captain Paul Sculthorpe, Australian back-rower Chris Flannery and ex-Wigan prop Bryn Hargreaves will make their Wembley debuts after missing Saints' win over Catalans Dragons a year ago.
Sculthorpe, who is in his 10th and final year at Saints, was nursing an Achilles tendon injury last year and has yet to play in the competition this year because of injury.
"It was hard missing out last year," he said.
"You don't want to miss any big game and it was extra-special being the first one at the new Wembley so it will be great to take part this year."
Victory on Saturday would enable Saints to equal their own club record of 21 successive cup and league wins.
They are overwhelming favourites to become only the second team behind Wigan to win three cup finals in a row but Anderson dismissed any prospect of complacency.
"We've been strong favourites for the last two Challenge Cup finals and it doesn't change our preparation or our mentality," he said.
"We're all very, very hungry and keen. We'll go into the game confident but not cocky."
Squad: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Talau, Meli, Pryce, Long, Fozzard, Cunningham, Gilmour, Wilkin, Sculthorpe, Roby, Flannery, Graham, Hargreaves, Clough, Fa'asavalu, Eastmond.
http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... tlead.html
What a disgrace - not complacent? not cocky? - not half takes a whole 2 hours out of your day - thats a big ask
Come on you Hull
Challenge Cup holders St Helens are to break with tradition by declining to make the customary eve-of-final walkabout at Wembley.
Saints coach Daniel Anderson took the decision after a straw poll of his players in the build-up to Saturday's showdown with Hull.
"With all due respect, if there is a walkabout group, it will be very small," he said.
"It takes about two hours out of your day by the time you drive there and back. We're in the same dressing rooms as last year and we're pretty comfortable with our knowledge there."
It has been tradition for the last 40 years for the finalists to undertake the walkabout 24 hours before the big game and the Rugby Football League have expressed their disappointment over St Helens' decision.
"We can understand their reason but it is disappointing because it is an opportunity to raise the profile of the game nationally," said RFL communications manager Craig Spence.
Hull will make their tour of the national stadium mid-morning and Saints, who are aiming to win the cup for a third successive year, were due to follow them at lunchtime.
"It's our choice," insisted Saints captain Keiron Cunningham, who will be making his eighth Challenge Cup final appearance.
"You can't tell me going to a walkabout at Wembley is going to make you play better the day after.
"It's a decision we've made as a group of players. We have been fortunate to play there last year and it's the same circumstances. I can't see it being beneficial to the team."
Long-serving full-back Paul Wellens also supported the decision, saying: "We've been to the stadium and it's the same dressing rooms as last year.
"I think it will probably benefit the players to get away from it the day before the game and just relax their minds so they are not constantly thinking about the game.
"The game is never far away from your mind in the build-up and walking around Wembley would probably sap the energy thinking about it.
"I think a lot of the guys would prefer to stay at the hotel and put their feet up. It's down to people's personal preference rather than a group choice.
"We are preparing as well as we've prepared for any game this year. I can assure people we are not being blas about it. We're leaving no stone unturned in our preparation."
Meanwhile, New Zealand prop Jason Cayless was an anticipated absentee when Anderson named his initial 19-man squad.
The experienced front rower will be sidelined until the start of the Super League play-offs because of knee ligament damage sustained in Sunday's 40-22 win at Huddersfield.
The squad includes England's Samoa-born prop Maurie Fa'ake Cayless' place, while club captain Paul Sculthorpe, Australian back-rower Chris Flannery and ex-Wigan prop Bryn Hargreaves will make their Wembley debuts after missing Saints' win over Catalans Dragons a year ago.
Sculthorpe, who is in his 10th and final year at Saints, was nursing an Achilles tendon injury last year and has yet to play in the competition this year because of injury.
"It was hard missing out last year," he said.
"You don't want to miss any big game and it was extra-special being the first one at the new Wembley so it will be great to take part this year."
Victory on Saturday would enable Saints to equal their own club record of 21 successive cup and league wins.
They are overwhelming favourites to become only the second team behind Wigan to win three cup finals in a row but Anderson dismissed any prospect of complacency.
"We've been strong favourites for the last two Challenge Cup finals and it doesn't change our preparation or our mentality," he said.
"We're all very, very hungry and keen. We'll go into the game confident but not cocky."
Squad: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Talau, Meli, Pryce, Long, Fozzard, Cunningham, Gilmour, Wilkin, Sculthorpe, Roby, Flannery, Graham, Hargreaves, Clough, Fa'asavalu, Eastmond.
http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... tlead.html
What a disgrace - not complacent? not cocky? - not half takes a whole 2 hours out of your day - thats a big ask
Come on you Hull
Its the only bloody press we get 