Sunday, 31 August 2008

Saints looking for the double

Challenge Cup winners St Helens are already looking towards the double after once again returning in triumph from Wembley.
Daniel Anderson's men made a heroes' return to Knowsley Road with the famous trophy they lifted for a 12th time thanks to a 28-16 win over Hull at Wembley ,but insisted they have unfinished business.
Saints did the double in 2006 but were denied a repeat league and cup double by Leeds in last year's Grand Final. They are determined to make amends this time.
They meet arch rivals Wigan at Knowsley Road on Friday in their final game of the regular season, needing to avoid defeat in order to top the table for a third successive year.
"Daniel promised the guys a few weeks ago that, if we took care of the job, we would have a couple of days in Madrid to relax and do a bit of training," said full-back Paul Wellens, man of the match in Saints' 21st successive win.
"We wanted to do something a little bit different to last year and recharge the batteries because this winning streak has taken a lot out of the guys and we don't want to go into the play-offs like we did last year, with pretty much no energy.
"We've delivered and he's stuck to his promise. We are obviously going to enjoy this but we realise the importance of what is coming up.
"So we are training Monday and preparing for a very tough game against Wigan."
Captain Keiron Cunningham, who appeared in his eighth Challenge Cup final, said: "This week was probably the most nervous I've been in my career. I can't really explain but it's probably the weight of expectation.
"You are expected to win finals because you play for Saints. I wouldn't say there was any jubilation at the end, more relief that we actually won the thing.
"We lost the last final we were in and it seemed like it was going that way for a little bit but we got there in the end."
Stand-off Leon Pryce scored his first try in six Cup final appearances, three of which were with Bradford, and added: "I'm going to savour that moment for the rest of my life," he said. "It's what you work so hard for.
"This is probably my favourite final. To beat Leeds (with Bradford) was a big game but winning three Challenge Cup finals in a row is something that may never happen again with the strength of the competition.
"It's not like back in Wigan's days when they were the best team by a mile so we're going to savour it."

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