Final: Hull FC v Warrington Rugby League: Challenge Cup

Good afternoon. Welcome to Wembley Stadium for one of the showpiece

events of the sporting summer, the Challenge Cup final. Over the past

few weeks we've been enjoying the achievements of our Olympians. Our

rugby league players follow the same principles.

It's a difficult question to answer, because this is a final that is very

finely balanced. Hull FC arrived first. Lee Radford, Gareth Ellis

leading them off the coach. Then came Tony Smith and his Warrington

team, who have such pedigree in the Challenge Cup at Wembley over the

last few seasons, and Westwood doing his own Bradley Wiggins. Under that

big red screen we are just located right under that, in amongst the

fans for the first 20 minutes or so. Wish us luck everybody. We are here

surrounded by Hull and Warrington fans. We are by the rugby league

statue. John and Brian, if I move you out of the way, you should be

able to see the legends. Eric Ashton, Billy Boston and Alex Murphy

and Martin Offiah, all commemorated on the statue behind me. No noble

inevitable noble, Jon Wilkin or Jonathan Davies as yet, but there

might be a new statue in years to come. A whole different purpose for

that statue. It certainly wouldn't be as clean and shiny. This is going

to be a sensational game. We've got the best two teams in the

competition. We've got the most entertaining teams in the

competition. If you were to set up a chessboard, the pieces are so

similar and committing it might well be down to how they move those

pieces. I can't wait for kick-off. There is always a buzz for a

Challenge Cup special, but maybe the last two or three years that hasn't

been the case. As a player these are things you don't see. You don't get

to see the fans and get the sense of the atmosphere and the occasion. The

players going through the tunnel don't see anything until the pitch

and the beautiful Wembley Stadium. It is so finely balanced. There's

such fine margins between the teams. Me, Brian and Jonathan have been

talking about it. It is difficult to pick a facet of either side's game

that will win the game for them today. Do you still get a buzz or do

you worry for your own safety and want to go back indoors? When you

come to Wembley it is an amazing place to play. You've got to keep

your focus and composure. It is a great day out for the fans. As the

boys have said you've got to two best sides in Super League. They are

both on top form. It's the power of the Hull pack. It may be against the

X Factor of the Warrington players. It is too tough to call. Hopefully

it will be a classic. Previous years you think there's a favourite, they

are going win. But on this occasion it is so tight to call. Kick-off is

at 3 o'clock. This is what we've got coming up in the next hour for you.

We'll meet both teams through Hull FC's Frank Pritchard and then Ashton

Sims doing a bit of singing with his team-mates in a car in Warrington.

And dancing. Brian Noble meets local boy Danny Houghton. And we'll also

hear from the Warrington legend that is Ben west wood. Before one of the

legends of the game joins at half-time, a man who has lifted this

I want to focus on Taylor, Houghton, watts watts, Minichiello and Ellis.

It is their strength that you think could be the the key? Absolutely.

They feel a buzz, if Bowden and watts they want, have a lot of the

ball, but their backs are no smaller. Look at Fonua and Talanoa

and you've got pressure which tends to suggest they are trying to play

the power game. People don't realise the whole emotion of the week. The

players playing Super League aren't used to this. The media attention is

bigger. They try and focus on the training sessions and then they have

to travel down here. It is important for these players not to get

overexcited. It is a tough place to play and the energy levels could be

drained in the last minutes of the game. It is a very big side, so

they've got to play on the front foot. Let's show you Warrington 17.

A greater pace with Warrington? I think so. We've got dynamic guys who

run out a dummy half. Ratchford, Sandow, a lot of Warrington's game

is built around defences on the back foot. Foot. Once those guys get into

that space and exploit that space, it is difficult to defend the

players on the back foot as they are so quick. I think Warrington have to

play clever, try to attack Sneyd. The Hull pack have dominate sides

this year. What's crucial for Warrington is the fact that they

have to kick the ball well against this giant Hull pack. They've got to

keep turning them around, get them on the roundabout doing circles to

use their energy up. Play the ball in and around the ruck. Kicking the

ball is important for this Warrington team today. Tony, how

nice to be back at recommendably. It is a privilege. Every time we are

here, we don't take it for granted, it's been a few years since we've

been here but it is nice to be back. It is a special occasion. I have to

throw you a statistic. Hull have never won a Challenge Cup final at

Wembley. Is that a pain in the backside for you or encouragement?

Thank you for reminding me of that! It is irrelevant. This group of

players today, it is a new experience, one they are looking

forward to massively. Can't wait for the kick-off to arrive. It's been a

long time coming since the semifinal, but they've been really

good, prepared really well. I think we are going to give ourselves a

shot in the arm today. They've pip ?you narrowly both times in Super

League. What do you need to do to reverse that? Play for 80 minutes.

We need to kick well and defend well. Hopefully some of our flair

and attack comes to fruition today and we don't make too many errors. A

couple of times when we've played each other both teams have come up

with way too many areas. Their kicking game has probably been

decisive in the last couple of outings against each other. But

every game is different. The weather is holding off and it is warm in

here, so hopefully we'll get an open game. Two big sets of forwards and

some big outside backs as well, so it should be exciting. It is a huge

opportunity and hopefully they'll all embrace that and take it,

because it would mean an awful lot for us to take that Challenge Cup

back up to Hull. We've beaten St Helens, Catalans and we had a huge

effort against Wigan. To knock the second team off in the competition

as well, it's going to be duff but it is one we are looking forward to.

Good luck. Cheers, Bob. Just to highlight how finely balanced this

final is, if we show you current Super 8s table, these two, only a

point separating them. Warrington have the best attack and the best

defence. Hull have the second best attack and the third-best defence.

That just shows how difficult to call this is. I go back to my

chessboard. How do you separate them? It is handling the occasion is

going be the difference. There's so many good players out there. We'll

witness that, witness their prowess on the field. But it is which coach

has prepared their team to best handle this occasion will get over

the line. Game plans are usually a small part of the day. You get the

small parts right, but a really important thing today is the game

plans, how the teams organise themselves. Tony Smith mentioned a

kicking game. Brian mentioned a kicking game. Without doubt

Warrington will be kicking to corners, kick long and turn this

Hull team around. But Warrington want to speed that game up.

Controlling it might be the focus of both sides They've got to drain the

tank of the Hull players. They are a big side. Sneyd is crucial. All the

play comes from him. If you look at the big match players, more maybe on

the Hull side, but more importantly half-backs of the Warrington are big

game players. You've played against both, you are the current player

amongst us all. Hoot is the biggest team to play against. I hope the

viewers at home would have spot I'm a current player. These two sides

are fantastic. The teams are well balanced. Warrington, speed, as

Jonathan mentioned, dynamic runners of the ball. Hull, we played Hull in

the cup and they were so physical and powerful that day. They

destroyed us through the middle of the field. That intimidating power

that Hull have could be the keel for them today. The again, very tight.

We haven't spoken much about Hull. We've spoken about what Warrington

needs to do. Sneyd kicks well. We go back to the Hull team. I think the

key for them is the emotional balance and the prowess of Gareth

Ellis. If he can get going on the front foot... On a day like today,

it is huge. The way they've played, they'll be hoping this game is in

the bag with 10 minutes to go. It is like the speed of the Warrington

side will kill them in maybe 10 minutes. Give us a wave. Do the

proper wave. Come on! The moment's gone! That's how the current Super

League is like and how Warrington and Hull have gone. These are two of

the great rugby league clubs, with an awful lot of Challenge Cup

history. Rock around the clock by Bill

Hayley. COMMENTATOR: A record Wembley score

of 38-5. Plenty of memories, as we have said,

but as we have also alluded to, Wembley Stadium itself does not hold

great memories for Hull FC. Although they have won the Challenge Cup

before, never at this famous stadium, either in its old or its

new guys. Do you really believe that this record affects a modern-day

club when you are going back to 1959 and 1960? It shouldn't, but the

people that live in Hull are reminded when they go to the shops

or for a drink, they go to the other side of the river, they are reminded

all the time. For the Hull people, they should not, it is a one-off

occasion for themselves, but I am sure they will be reminded of it if

they don't get over the Linux Michael Block I don't ever think

consciously of it, if it were my team, but we are talking about it

now, it may well be in the subconscious of the Hull players,

and that can manifest in all sorts of behaviour on the field. I don't

think it does, this is a different entity from any game in the season,

to get the Cup run, this is a different game. As I said before, it

is in London, the fans come down, it brings its own pressure, because it

is what it is. Can you honestly tell me if you were playing for Hull

today, rather than talking to us, the previous record would not bother

you at all? I do not think you would consciously think about it, the

message we are sending by talking about it, the media, like you say,

fans of rival teams may mention it, it is subconscious. It is more

relevant for the players who played in the defeat to Wigan. Probably

not, the occasion brings the euphoria among the city. I coached

the Bradford side, moving around the city, history does play its part,

but it is your job to separate from that, focus on what is in front of

them. There is no job that it will be mentioned by somebody, when they

bump into people, you have to talk about it, it is nothing to do with

us. At St Helens, we lost five Grand Finals on the spin, going to Old

Trafford every year, that is in your conscience, you can physically feel

the pain, but only a few Hull players have felt that. I can

empathise with those guys, but the guys who are new to the system, it

doesn't affect them at all. It comes down to mental toughness, you have

just got to prepare properly. Some interesting people behind John

there! This is how both sides got to the final in the Challenge Cup.

Sneyd with a short pass, and over goes Gareth Ellis! And it is a try

in the corner, in athletics they'll! -- in athletic style! George King

goes in, that is great play from Warrington. And Warrington are

scoring another try, it is a hat-trick for George King.

Taylor is too strong here, need support, gets it, hooker! -- Dwyer

does not need six, he just needs one.

He has dropped it, and it is thought by Talanoa! Hull FC are going to

Wembley! Here comes Westerman, Sandow goes

left again, Atkins steps back inside, Sandow, over he goes! The

primrose and blue is back on Wembley Way.

There is no doubt, Brian Noble, that Warrington have had an easier run to

this final and Hull. They have played big teams as well, so they

will be ready. The toughness of Hull's route will stand them in good

stead. More importantly, they know they can come back from any

situation and score points. Warrington will feel the same,

because if they get themselves behind, they know they have the

arsenal and prowess in their ranch to get back on terms. Warrington's

semifinal and Hull's semifinal were completely different, against Wigan

for Hull, very tight, but Warrington's was a blow out score.

They played fantastic, they did all they could do, and I do not think

that will influence their confidence. Last week, the roles

were reversed, Hull had the easy game. As I said before, this is

totally different, you come prepared. Whoever plays to the best

of their ability wins the game. They are contrasting sides. If it all

goes to plan, Hull will play how they have played, but you have got

that X Factor with Warrington, they may have to play that card today.

For the moment, thank you very much, we will meet the teams later. Thank

you to Frank Pritchard and Ashton Sims, but we are going to focus on

the special day for 32 fans who are putting together a quiet courtesy of

Songs Of Praise, they are going to seeing Abide With Me prior to the

game, and Tanya Arnold is down there with them and some familiar faces.

I am indeed, I have dived very nervous singers representing their

clubs, I am guessing the two in the middle are even more nervous! And we

have got Aled Jones and Lizzie Jones, you have been putting the

guys through their paces, what were they like? It was me that was

nervous! No, it is going to be fantastic, 32 people who have never

sang in Wembley before singing Abide With Me, it doesn't get better than

that. You only got them this morning, what NUT to them? We have

had Martin Offiah saying, do not be nervous, seize the moment, sing,

enjoy it. I have been doing this since I was nine years old, but what

an occasion, enjoy it, it will be over before you know it. If you are

nervous, what is it like for them?! They are here to enjoy it, the

atmosphere is brilliant, imagine what it will be like at kick-off, we

are going to have a really good time, we are ready. Fingers crossed!

Lizzie, you reduced most of us to tears with your wonderful rendition

last year, that must still be so vivid in your mind. Yeah, it is

vivid and a blur as well, the feeling of walking out, I do not

think I will ever lose. A special, special moment, just needs to take

it in and enjoy it. What advice have you been giving these guys? Just

stated in, enjoy it, smile, breathe, deep breaths. What has it been like

for you to be involved? Special, very special, 32 deserving, special

people, the stories were so wonderful. And still have 32 clubs

represented at the Challenge Cup final by people that deserve to be

here is wonderful. How old are you, for a start off? 12. How are you

feeling? A bit scared, but excited. You while representing Keighley

Cougars, give us a little bit of information about yourself. Well, I

am doing this for my grandad, Neil Spencer, because he used to be very

involved with Keighley Cougars, with the directors, and he had to stop

because of memory problems. So I am making another memory for him. He is

going to be so proud of you. Enjoy your day. We spoke to you when you

found out that you had got it, when we were over at Warrington, now it

is here, how are you feeling? Nervous, excited, tearful, so

emotional. I can't put it into words, really. Then you have got a

rugby league game to watch! Even more nerve wracking! Good luck! And

you are supporting your team, Hull FC, what has the process been like

for you? Can't hear you. What was it like this morning? It was amazing,

walking out here, the feeling inside, it was absolutely

marvellous, so exciting. I have just nearly cried and now, seeing them

coming out of the tunnel. Two gentleman, you are representing

Bradford and badly. I am Terry, I have made it down, what a wonderful

day, what a spectacular place this is. Rome has got nothing on this,

this is better than the Colosseum! Fantastic, the feeling you get here.

It is incredible, awesome, what else can I say? Wonderful, wonderful, I

am glad to be here. It is fascinating to be here, we have

worked very hard as a choir as well, we have worked really hard to

prepare, it is a dream come true for me. I have been coming here since

1958, I never thought I would be out here. I am really pleased and

honoured, thank you. We look forward to hearing you all, good luck!

Well, Abide With Me is always a spine tingling moments, and we look

forward to hearing that before the game gets under way. Jonathan, you

are going to leave us, how do you see this going? It is a tough call,

both sides, you know, are playing well. Hull are really, really

looking solid, powerful upfront, Sneyd is controlling things. But

they are the power, and you have got Warrington, you know, maybe with the

ex factor, so it is a tough call. None of the fans are really thinking

he was going to win, I think it could go down to the last ten

minutes, see who has got energy in the tank. You still haven't given me

a prediction, and I wonder whether it is you are surrounded by

Warrington and Hull bans! On the form, you have to go with Hull.

Jonathan is now going to go and take his place in the commentary box. I

will tell you what we are going to do, you are told will not have a

chance to meet the teams, so we will look at both set up teams, we will

start with Hull FC, and their guide is Frank Pritchard.

I am Frank Pritchard, welcome to Hull FC's training ground, I will

take you in and show you around. Pritchard, Frank the tank is over

the line! The only man I know that brings a TV camera to training! Few

words, man? I am always looking after you, Frank. What is for

dinner, mate? Meatballs! That guy walking in the room... This

is Apollo Creed, why are you so tight? Island from the best, mate.

-- island. Any words of wisdom you want to share with us? Carlos is

on there four times a day, I can't get an! The coaches here too, can

you zoom in on that?! I am Donald Trump, I do what I like, US

presidential candidate. Here he is! Stop flexing, mate! Come here,

kebab. # He loves his kebab is... #

Everybody is happy around here, mate. What would it be like for you

to win the Challenge Cup? Massive. We've never won at Wembley. That

would be unbelievable. Can't wait to get on the field with you. Thanks

guys, cheers. Thanks to Frank Pritchard for doing that. The Hull

players are on the Wembley pitch going through their pre-match

routines. As we can see, with Frank TV, having fun and relaxing before

the big match today is extremely important. As you can see, we are

blessed that we've had the opportunity to come inside the Hull

FC changing room before they kick off the game. The boys have arrived.

They've got a timeline of activities they need to do before kick-off.

Stretching equipment is here. All the players are getting ready. A

couple of the boys, some guys like to get ready in 20 minutes, others

like to get ready and hour-and-a-half before the game. One

of the most outstanding Super League players this year is Gareth Ellis.

He is a little long in the tooth but he is well prepared. How has the

team prepared this week? Obviously you weren't part of Frank's filming

but everyone was having a lot of fun, enjoying yourself and relaxing

this week has got to be important. Massive. We've spent a lot of time

this week. We've been staying in a hotel for a few days. Just trying to

stay as relaxed as possible. It is easy to get caught up in the emotion

of this game. Controlling those emotions is easier said than done.

The lads are ready to go. Have you noticed a difference today? The day

of the game everyone wakes up a little more keyed up? Definitely.

Everyone has had a spring in their step all week. Probably thinking of

this game in the back of their minds for a few weeks. There is no

embarrassment in that. There's been a stillness and quietness about the

lads. I think that's just part of the day, knowing how important it is

to everybody. Thank you, and the best of luck. Thank you very much.

So that is Hull. As for Warrington, the Fijian international Ashton Sims

is experiencing the Challenge Cup final for the first time and he is

going to introduce us to some of his Warrington team-mates. Just to

reiterate, because it is very important, this was filmed on a

private road under full supervision, and he only drove at 1 mile an hour.

Hey guys, Ashton Sims here from Warrington Wolves. This is a bit of

our car karaoke, here's Metallica. Sleep with one eye open, gripping

our pillow tight. It's a pleasure to be in your company. This is a

special. Stevie Wonder, baby. Like a fool I went and stayed too long. I

think Sandy is there at the moment. Ooh baby, here I am, signed, sealed,

delivered, I'm yours. Most fashionable? I will tell you what,

there's a couple of fashionable dudes in this car. These are just my

dog walking pants. Champion, champion, champion. Come on, boys,

you know this song. Everybody knows we are a champion. Lineham line,

common sense-wise, but he isn't brilliant. He is book smart not

street smart. He can boil an egg but not split the at Tom. Describe each

member in the car in three words. Big, tough and durable. Good

looking, ugly. Smart. Cheers, boys. I'm doing my giraffe dance. I can

feel it coming in the air tonight. This is my first final. I've played

1 years now. For it to happen this year would be unbelievable. How you

doing? Good? I've been lucky enough to win it the first year I was at

Warrington. It is something I want to experience again and get that

feeling again. I can fight coming in the air tonight... I'm looking

forward to creating history with my mates. So, following up on the

relaxed Warrington Wolves karaoke. The boys are getting a little bit

serious, reading about themselves in the programme. They are going to

focus on the massive job in front of them. Everybody has their own

changing room locker. Matthew Russell's there, and Reece Evans.

Kurt Gidley, you've played in amazing games Down Under. You've

been there, done that. How important is it for you to play in this

Wembley Cup Final? Oh mate, it's one of the biggest experiences of my

life, to be honest. This is my first experience of a Cup Final. To play

in a ground like Wembley, an iconic ground around the world. World. I'm

excited. Positive. We are all pretty pumped up now. Do you feel extra

pressure because this is your first major Cup Final? I don't think so.

The only thing that changes is more effort in the tough areas. We are up

against a tough team. We have both been consistent throughout the year.

We sit one and two on the ladder, so we expect a tough game ourselves. I

don't think there is any extra pressure. It is just about more

effort for your team-mates. That's what wins the big games. Kick well,

keep chasing, and defend well that. Cycle. Whoever does that best will

become the cup winners. All the best and good luck. Thank you. I have to

say normally when you do big sporting events it takes a while for

the stadium to fill up. A lot of people are outside or on the

concourse until the last possible minute enjoying the food, the drink

and the atmosphere. This I would say is already half full at Wembley

Stadium. Myself and Brian are come in to our inside studio, where Jamie

Peacock has been. You were down there a year ago. It has filled up

early hasn't it today compared to previous years? It feels a special

atmosphere down there. I think people are expecting a great game,

that's why. It is a privilege to play in the game. Tommy Smith said

one competition that's lasted three centuries. It started in 1897 so it

is a great privilege to play in it. That anticipation and excitement, a

cracker. When we heard Ashton Sims talking in the car between the music

about he's had a 13-year career and what this is going mean to him, even

last year at the end of your career, and you've been in the game a long

time, did you feel nerves when you came out? Not nerves, no nerves,

because it is about nailing the game plan, what you've got to do for the

team, making sure you get 9 out of 10 personal performance and then you

can enjoy it. I thought, this is what I'm paid to do, it is what I'm

good to do, playing rugby league. If you asked me to dance or sing, I

would be nervous. But with rugby I'm good at doing it. Is it the

anticipation? I would say it's knowing that you are playing in such

a showcase event. Knowing that 70,000 or 80 tow people are here.

Winning be so great. It is so enjoyable, but losing hurts like

hell. It is the worst feeling there is but winning is absolutely

beautiful. I think Jamie's experience through the years has

helped him prepare and use that excitement rather than nervousness.

There are young players on each team here now and it would be to the

likes of the Ashton Sims that's played in big games or the Gidleys,

Gareth Ellis or anybody that's reinforce the coach's message. You

need to enjoy this, use this excitement and go for the game. As a

senior player, all the younger players look up to you and you have

to be confident in what you do and exude that in and around the

dressing room in your body language and demeanor. That will rub off on

the team. I might ask you to go and sing and dance down there later.

Let's focus on Danny Houghton, the man who is going to make Hull FC

tick this afternoon. Brian went to meet him. The season so far, top to

which Super League, a Challenge Cup final. What's been the difference

this year? I think the group we've got together, we've signed some

fantastic players and they've brought a lot to the squad in terms

of making it more of a family club, it really shows on the field. The

quality of your squad and all them youngsters, all them Hull kids. You

are born and bred here, does that make a difference to the team? When

you are born here you strive extra, that 1% to get your club you have

supported all your life over the line. Probably 10 or 12 blokes from

Hull. It is a massive plus for the team. You know them Rovers fans...

They love it don't they. They can't, you'll never win at Wembley. The

last time you did win it was 2005. Yeah, at Cardiff. It wasn't at

Wembley. How do you preach this one, what will get you over the line this

time? This season we've been behind the scoreboard with 10 or 5 minutes

to go, we are still confident we can get the result. We've got a winning

mentality about it. Winning breeds winning.

COMMENTATOR: A beautiful try! An unbelievable side in the '80s. They

had a great Kiwi contingent. Tell me about your band of brothers. I think

they bring unity and the camaraderie around the place it is always up. If

it's down, Big Frankie, he jumps on board and makes sure the boys have a

spring in their step. But your form has been highlighted this year. What

do you think is the difference in your game? To have a pack like we've

got and to get us on the front foot, that's a hooker's dream to play on

the front foot. I love attacking and creating tries and opportunities for

people. A man of steel nominations have been tied and I've got to lock

new the changing room, you and Gareth Ellis, and the winner comes

out. He wins every time. Have you seen the size of him? His hands are

bigger than my head! From hooker to hooker... I want to play really well

against Daryl Clark. If I can get the number, I'm sure I will us us

into that result. Hopefully I can lift that trophy. A blast, mate.

Thank you. And to tell us the how he thinks they are going to play today,

Robbie with the Hull FC game plan. This is it. This is what it's all

about. Wembley Stadium, the two best teams in the Super League going head

to head. The conditions are brilliant today. This is the type of

day you want to play on. How are Hull going to go about their job

today? These boys have some of the most powerful players in the Super

League. The man I want you to keep your eye on today is this man, Danny

Houghton. He is the smallest player in the pack but he is devastating

once he plays the ball. He can run out and cause disruption to all the

players. If they do their job well they'll cause problems. Other

players, big across your back, this is Mahe Fonua. A powerhouse. I will

see if I can grab him. How have preparations gone today, are you

looking forward to this game? I've had a great week's training. The

boys are ready for it. How important is it to Hull to get a win today? It

is huge. We won the Challenge Cup in the past but not at this stadium.

All the best, and good luck to you. Thank you. Brian Noble used to be

Robbie's coach. Danny Houghton will be wearing the player mic for us

today, and Daryl Clark will be doing the same for Warrington. That's

going to be a fascinating listen over the course of the next 80

minutes. But as regards them taking each other on, that's going be even

more fascinating. It epitomises what I've been talking about in the Hull

build-up. They are both similar in what they do. If they can get on the

front foot they are going to run out a dummy half. With false prowess and

the bigger size, Danny's offensive game, Lee Radford has helped him, he

is more dangerous and smarter. That's not being disrespectful.

Disrespectful. He knows when the hand the ball on and when the run.

Run. We can see Houghton's process. Organises his feet well and explodes

out of the dummy half. He has Leon Pryce on this occasion and finishes

the there. Any opportunity, he's is going to take the metres. He showed

these skills last year because the pack didn't have the power, but this

year they've got the power. He's been known in Super League for his

defensive work but this year his offence is to the fore. Had is an

athlete. As quick as they come. , he is getting a bit of a rest

these days, with the wire coming from the bench, which makes an even

more dangerous around dummy half. -- Dwyer. Going around him, using his

pace, but this is a very draining game, and his speed and athleticism

in the second half will be vital to Warrington. From a neutral point of

view, to see how they both developed this season can only be pleasing. It

is great for England, we have got four strong candidates pushing for

the place. As coach, I would not want to pick which two will make the

England setup, one is potentially going to be an RL. Houghton has been

massively impressive for this impressive Hull team. Speaking to

him earlier, he always plays at least seven out of ten, in his worst

games. We can move onto a Warrington player now who is absolutely loved

by his home fans, that is Ben Westwood, a stall what of this

Warrington team, and our very own stall what, Ben Woods, met him last

week. Super Bennie Westwood, do you enjoy

that? It is not bad, is it? I will take it as it comes. This is your

club, your first club. I have loved it here, I have been here 14 years

now, and I am a proud Yorkshireman, I came to make a go of it over in

Warrington, my kids have been brought up here, so it is a special

place for me. In your early days, you were a centre, do you prefer

being in the middle of things? I was always going to be a forward, I have

worked my way in from the back row, now into the middle, and when all

these wingers are moaning they are tired, remember that I used to play

there, I know exactly what they are feeling like and they are not tired

at all, they are just lazy! It is all part of the game, I like getting

in the mix of everything. You are involved with the fans quite a lot.

You took one young lads to his graduation party. I did, yes, I got

asked to do that, and I have seen a couple of times, a special date made

special for him. I am proud to be part of something like that. This is

your fourth Challenge Cup final, so what are your special memories of

the previous three? The first one was special, and it was weird,

because Warrington had not been there for 34 years, and the town

went at slickly crazy. It was an experience we had not experienced

before, and the following year was special, my daughter was the mascot,

so I managed to get on the podium when I was not supposed to, and I've

got a photo of us lifting trophy together. That is especially, for

that reason. This promises to be a real classic. Definitely, and with

the way Hull have been playing, they have done us twice already this

year, hopefully it will be one of the classics. We have got the best

squad since I have been here, I am just in it by the skin of my teeth,

so a chance to enjoy it, hopefully this will be the year for us. And a

few minutes ago, Jon Wilkin was in the middle of the Warrington warm up

to talk us through their game. Huge privilege to walk out and it is

Wembley pitch, beautiful turf, the amazing atmosphere, all of the fans

travelling down from the north of England to celebrate the Challenge

Cup final. This Warrington team has been built on playing quickly, they

play quickly through Ben Westwood, through King, Ashton Sims, through

Chris Hill, number eight, and that speed that they create is for the

likes of Matty Russell, Chris Sandow to take advantage of. Gidley will be

taking on the front foot, loads of experience from NRL, watch out for

him kicking into the corner, trying to turn the Hull team around. He is

a leader for this Warrington team. Away from that, we have got the guys

who take advantage of space, and we have got one of them here, Stefan

Ratchford, we will try to grab a quick word. Huge day for you, are

you excited? Massive day, no big day in the rugby league calendar, it is

a great day for us. How amazing is your support, Warrington? No matter

where we go, they are always there in numbers, today is no different.

All the best. Cheers. And there are fascinating match-ups

across the pitch here, and if we focus on Stefan Ratchford and his

battle with Jamie Shaul at full-back, I know you are conscious,

because we have had this conversation before, that you do not

build people up too soon, but this battle is an interesting one. It is

a great one, Jamie Shaul has been progressing nicely, you can see he

is a great tackle breaker, clean breaks as well. Stefan Ratchford is

a different type of football, more natural, instinctive. More of an

athlete, Jamie Shaul. The one thing Jamie Shaul is going to do is get on

the end of everything, like every good full-back. He has got

blistering speed, they go through their hands a lot in the back row,

and he will be in a situation where they have to stop him. He has got

the knowledge of how to get to the breakdown as quick as he possibly

can, he gets it on the front foot, picking up the pieces line-out break

early in the year, and he has got decent footwork, we have seen him do

this many times. He has been a key part of why Hull has played well,

same as Ratchford. Jamie Shaul has not quite got that in his game yet,

a great player is Ratchford. One of those plays that Tony Smith says has

to be on the team sheet, can play pretty much anywhere. He does not

like speed, he will run out at dummy have to get

the team moving forward, really good pair of hands. A lot of people

watched just the Challenge Cup final on the BBC, they come to this

showpiece event, they may not have seen the build-up, so when Tony

Smith talks about putting Ratchford on the team sheet, because he is

such a gifted player, can that be a disadvantage to him sometimes? Only

for him, but not for the team. For the team, it is a great asset,

because in rugby league, to have a player who is that versatile, can

cover a number of positions, nine, 13, six, seven, there is no position

he cannot cover. One thing for Ratchford this year, he is

comfortable at full-back, his coaches comfortable within there, he

can change the game from there, he has got good vision, and he can make

a play for the team. We can do like overemphasise where he is and is

not, but he is in a comfortable position.

When we were outside on Wembley Way and you were back in here, Jamie, it

has been noted! Not a team player! We were discussing the power of the

Hull forwards, you have been in many AIPAC, is there really that much

difference between the Hull and Warrington players, the size and

strength? -- many a pack. I don't think so, these two sides, they are

one and two in the league. When Hull have got on top of teams, they have

been devastating, they put 50 points on St Helens, who have been a good

side. On the back of that, their kicking game has been great.

Everyone talking about the Hull power game, it is like a red ripe to

a Bull for him, and Chris Hill, I think he is the best prop in the

country. Let's look at the Warrington line-up, Ashton Sims,

State of Origin, Fiji international, Chris Hill, one of the best front

row players in the world, then a bloke called Ryan Bailey coming from

the bench, the most successful Challenge Cup player, six finals and

his belt. He does not like aggression, what is Ryan Bailey

coming up the bench going to be like? And Sneyd-Sando will be very

interesting. Their kicking will be very interesting, it is a full-size

pitch, kicking needs to be very good. We are hope we are in for one

of the best Challenge Cup finals of many a year, someone is going to

write their name into history. He is going to have a drop, and it

is a goal! And he has made it! As good a try as you will see!

What a fabulous try by Chris Hicks! It is one of the great Wembley

dries! We are set for a moment as 80

minutes ahead, and this is what they are all playing for, the Ladbrokes

Challenge Cup, which is being brought on by three members of the

Armed Forces, Warrant Officer nick or, from the Royal Engineers, the

brother of Castleford Tigers coach Danny, Senior Aircraftman George

Andrew, and Daniel Johnson from the Royal Navy. And as much as the

trophy is part of the tradition, so is Abide With Me. For the first

time, the Songs Of Praise rugby league Challenge Cup I has been put

together by BBC Sport, the RFL, and as well, of course, Songs Of Praise.

Aled Jones will be accompanying them, representing 32 different

clubs. I was having a chat with them earlier, a mixture of excitement,

tension and fear. Aled Jones will guide them through it. The Challenge

Cup, Abide With Me. A very special moment for those 32

fans and for Aled Jones as well. Thank you to the band of the Royal

Engineers and the band of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment for

accompanying those fans, who don't want to leave the Wembley turf. You

can understand that. They are going to have to, otherwise

they are going to be in the middle of a stampede, because here come

Hull FC and Warrington Wolves for the 114th Challenge Cup final. Your

commentary team here at Wembley, John Kear, Jonathan Davies and Dave

Woods. First they hear the noise and then

they feel the heat. Their hearts pump hard in their chest as they

come out to this absolutely sensational greeting at Wembley

Stadium. That's what it's all about. Terrific Pomp and Circumstance

stance for the 74th Wembley final. Hirst has its relevance today, not

least for Hull. 8 Wembley finalses since 1959 but has never won here.

Warrington can boast three successes in that national arena in just the

last 8 years. How does the story go today? It is looking good isn't it,

Wembley? The Black and Whites of Hull hoping to lift hearts of

Humberside or at least part of the city by that river. The primrose and

blue of Warrington. We pause now for the national anthem, which is sung

by Aled Jones. They are going to have the guest of

honour first. The Warrington vice-chairman, Stuart Middleton, who

led his side out teed. Reece Evans there, the Welshman who plays on the

wing today. He was a youngster playing in a schools final at

Cardiff. That first alerted him to rugby league and rugby league to

him, and here he is starring in a main event today. Ryan Atkins,

Ashton Sims along the line as well. Stefan Ratchford and Chris Hill.

Last but certainly not least, Tony Smith, who's had terrific success as

a coach in Challenge Cup finals. Gareth Hour is the referee today.

Garrett Hewer is the referee today. And then it comes to Hull. Their

owner introducing to Lee Radford the coach. Along line they go. Some

determination in those eyes at the moment. Some nerves I'm sure. Old

faithful ringing out to the left where the black and white fans are,

the Warrington fans trying to count they are with their own music as

well. The early birds, the two mascots, the club was originally

known as the Early Birds. That Hull legend played in 1985 when Wigan

beat Hull 28 points. Maybe we've got an occasion that will match that. It

is very warm, very close, very sticky conditions which are the

player part. And now we are going to have the national anthem sung by

Aled Jones from Songs of Praise. Two of the most fanatical sets of

fans here today. To see their sides. CHEERING. So this is the way they

are lining up. The Fijian international Ashton

Sims. And Gareth Hewer, 12 years a referee. He is a part-timer. 34

years of age. By day he's an engineering team leader at

Sellafield, but today he's the man in the middle. Should we need the

video ref, Ben is in the truck to make any of the big decisions

required. They are two class acts. They meet on the biggest stage and

there is very little to separate them ahead of what could be a

ferocious contest. Hull get first touch of the ball and the shoulders

that bend first and hit the ribs are those of Warrington. Let's hear the

thoughts of Jonathan Davies and first the former Hull Challenge Cup

winning coach John Kear. It is difficult to split these two. We've

got the physicality and go forward of the Hull FC forwards, the speed

of luck of Warrington Wolves. I think it will come dawn to one

thing. Win the ruck and you will win the cup. And Jonathan is the

Warrington influence in the commentary box. It is the power of

the Hull pack. Especially the back three. I think the kicking is

important. Tony Smith said they won the kicking game on previous

encounters. It is going to be a lot. It is a very warm day, so whoever

has something left in the tank, and where they play the game is going to

be crucially important. It is a Hill pass by the former Hull man. Not far

from the halfway line. That was a poor error by Warrington. That will

give Hull a first attacking opportunities. I just saw there was

a late challenge. Jack Hughes on Marc Sneyd. Sneyd is going to be the

catalyst. Everything goes through him. His kicking game, but if

there's a question mark on his game it's his defence. But also the big

game temperament. They will put pressure on him. A very different

approach to this Cup Final day, Hull. A resounding win against

Catalan just over a week ago, when Marc Sneyd was in imperious form.

Warrington had to do it against castle Ford, so they have had

different buildups. But each would say theirs was the perfect platform.

It is Watts who will drive this in. He and Taylor very much a bedrock of

Hull's season. Houghton scampering away from half again. Quickly up

goes Atkins to make that tackle. Up it goes off the boot of Sneyd. It

hasn't got a lot of distance on it. It is allowed to bounce and

Warrington get the ball back. A disappointing end to that set.

They've built up a reasonable position, but a it was too easy for

Warrington to defuse the situation. A poor kick to finish the first set

in the red zone of Warrington. You would have to put a little more

height on it, compete for it. Sandow with the kick from behind the

40-metre mark. Shaw Shaw, they are after him. Shaul, they are after

him. That was a good kick from Sandow. At the minute it is going

Warrington's way. It is going to be such an important factor today, he's

the catalyst for Warrington, Chris Sandow. That's great play by the

Hull backs. They stepped up, took the pressure off their forwards.

Fonua, Tuimavave was in there, Shaul did well. And now they have an

easier kick. Sneyd looking for the touchline here. He gets the

touchline and that roar you hear is the Hull fans who love the chant the

name of Sneyd more or less when he puts his boot to the ball. Ball..

Today he will do a lot of kicking. It will have to be good kicking. I'm

with Jonathan there. A really good set by Hull FC. They are not only

big forwards but a big team. Sneyd finished the set off with a good

kick into the corner. They've left Warrington with a challenge. They'll

look for the mistake. Turn the ball over in the Warrington 20-metre

area. It is like a game or chess. For the first 10-15 minutes, try and

force the error. Matthew Russell. Good marking. Russell takes off so

often from that dummy half position. Hill. Three tackles gone so far in

this particular set. Set. Ashton Sims. Sandow lobs it downfield. It

is taken easily by Shaul. Has the confidence to put the pass into

Michaels. Struggles up to the 35-metre market. A lot of energy put

into that set by Hull FC defensively. The reward was feeling

the ball 30 metres from their own line. Already they are in midfield.

Minichiello. This guy's been a brilliant signing, Minichiello.

Second year at this club, Mark Minichiello. The brother of Anthony,

the former Australian full-back. Houghton to Ellis. Talk about good

signings, what about this fella, what a year he's been having. Sixth

tackle come up. Tuimavave's role will be crucial today. Sneyd's kick

is sliced high. But what about that?! The chase is on. Russell is

back there. The kick from Sneyd wasn't a bad effort. It was unusual,

to say the least. It almost worked out for the player. Great work for

Reece Evans. They've now played their own 20 metre zone.

Improvisation by Sneyd but the kick was poor. The execution on the last

tackle. Hill again. At the moment the defence is solid. Quick line

speed. In by Ashton Sims. A sixth tackle going up, so Sandow is again

the go-to man. He's not under too much pressure. I don't think the

coach will be happy with the execution of the kick. There is no

pressure on Shaul. Shaul. Have to put pressure on the full-back. This

is improvisation by Sneyd. the pitch is looking really lush,

isn't it? Conditions will play their part here today, it is a draining

atmosphere. It is very muggy. A pass on the inside. That was a great

tackle! How about that? Has he got his kicking game today? He has done

two really good ones, putting it over the side, two in different

ones, but that may be a taxi for Lee Radford, maintaining their energy

levels. I think that is the case, he has put two Kickstarter two the

bigger side are the Hull players, so you would expect them to use a bit

more energy. If he takes over the touchline, they walked to the scrum.

Damian Johnson is on the touchline. 23 degrees at there, not that one,

but 60% humidity, we have seen the water carriers on already.

A penalty here, making the job of clearing their lines much easier. A

bit of a piggyback, interference at the ruck. He has failed to find

touch. Oh! Big decision by the touch judge, saying that Michaels has put

a foot on the line. Great effort for him to catch it, maybe he should

have tapped it back, because there was players around him. Does his

foot come down on the touchline? Yes, it does. Good call! Good call

by the touch judge. That was almost a waste, that penalty, to piggyback

them into good field position, but they have got head and feed. Again,

Jonathan, I agree with you, getting it back into play would have been

the best way. Warrington with a couple of tackles

gone, but in a good position here. He has knocked on, he was a bit of a

doubt, Westerman, because of an ankle injury last week, he has had a

few sleepless nights, no doubt last night, but against his former team.

He just took is I off it. It is disappointing, though, Jonathan,

because the two errors that Warrington have made have both come

from Westerman. That pass earlier, then that stone cold drop, you have

to reel them in on days like this. If you are going to give the

opposition the ball, your energy levels dropped straightaway. Hull's

turn to take advantage of the field position, better than they were

expecting. Rolling it forward again here. Here is Houghton at Tommy

Haas. Told to go back and play the ball where he was tackled. -- at

Tommy Hughes has got the job of unsettling

Sneyd, another late tackle, making him aware that he will be in his

face all day, he will not have the time to take the pass and give the

kick. Hughes and the pressure there. It is very effective, great kick out

of dummy half, first tackle of the Warrington set within their own 20

metres. Evans and his brother played in the

2005 Challenge Cup final in Cardiff, spotted by the Scouts, they became

rugby league stars. A dash and a dart, that is the end of the set, or

it will be with the next tackle, so what are they going to do? Ratchmond

asking the question with a kick, Michaels clears the 30 metres mark.

Great tackle! That was a big play from Michaels, it really was, under

pressure taking the ball. And not only did he take it, paid it back

with interest with a 30 metres run. Brilliant run by Michaels.

Hull making up the metres here in this particular set, finishing in a

strong position. Houghton runs away, they panic around him quickly, the

Warrington defenders, to put him down. Final play in the set, here it

goes to Sneyd, Evans is underneath it. He is protected by his

team-mates. I think it was King in the end to target. If you are not

going to control the speed of the tackle, I would expect the hookers

to make the most of it. Big defence going at the moment,

crunching tackles. Inside the 40 here, Sandow, this could be a huge

kick, and it has given Warrington the head and feed at the scrum, the

40/20. It is a massive, massive weapon in any side's armoury if you

can produce a cake like that, because taking from behind the 40

and beyond the 20 gives warranting the head and feed and the attacking

position. It is in conditions like this as well, a repeat set for

Warrington, so clever. Before Sandow received the ball, he looked exactly

where the receivers was, he changed the angle of his kick and bounced it

over the sideline, ten metres away from the Hull line. Absolute quality

skill from the scrum-half. It is great, because he checked his run,

he was aware of where he was, he made sure that he stayed in the 40

metres area. As you said, the earlier tackle, plenty of space, the

bounce favoured Warrington. So the first real proper attack belongs to

Warrington, what can they make of this position? Evans repelled in the

first instance, but five more waves of that kind of effort to come here.

That was the right winger on the left, shaped completely differently

for the scrum. Here is Clark out of dummy half, giddily towards Hughes.

Ashton Sims has gone in at dummy half, A-level grubber kick is

fielded easily enough, and Hull it back again, sure, the full-back,

doing his job well. That was a poor pass from Ashton Sims at dummy half.

Hull are coming back with gusto. Robbie Hunter-Paul, what you think?

Absolutely massive defensive set by Hull FC, we are right at the point

of the game where they are hitting the first wall physically, energy

levels are getting low, they have to dig deep. Massive defensive set.

Another kick from dummy half, Ratchford back to collect it. He has

got Russell for company. Tackle four, he wanted to get into the

Warrington are. That was Matty Russell from dummy half almost

getting his nose through. Sims's effort, Gidley is involved, then

Hughes as well. I think Warrington are winning the tackle here, because

they are not getting that role and that gives the armchair ride. --

roll on. Michael has to deal with this in his own goal area, and

Sandow, having put the kick in, makes the definitive tackle, and

Hull will have to drop out from underneath their own sticks.

Sandow's kicking has been very precise, just keeping the back three

of Hull on their toes. He is making his kicks into excellent kicks by

his chase, immediately reacting and leading the chase team. Away by

Sneyd, decent first touch. Forward comes Chris Hill. I can tell you

what, after 16 minutes, you have got a real final here, this is a final,

points in this game are going to be hard to come by, despite the weather

conditions. There is the dummy, but taken by

Minichiello, only ten metres away. Westerman bundling forward,

Westerman goes for the line, very nearly determination got in there,

but not quite. Now Clark, Gidley, he cannot get the pass away. Just a

little bit out of his depth there. Final play in this set, Gidley

rolling it forward, taken superbly. They were looking for the repeat set

once again, Warrington, but a great cake by Manu. -- great cake. --

great take. There is some breathing going on out there, trying to get

oxygen in, Green on from the interchange bench. There is not much

in it in terms of territory. The kick is going to hold up. Good kick.

And a good chase. Good kicking from both sides today, a real feature.

The kicking game is one thing, but also the lack of errors, you have to

complete your set in conditions like this, because it is draining. As the

boys said before the match, John and Brian, they want to play the game

quick, they want to keep the tempo, Warrington. Back it comes towards

Currie. Just inside the Hull half. Gidley again, coming towards the end

of the set, a kick towards the touchline, and they will make Hull

start from as deep as possible inside their own half. 20 minutes

gone, there is nothing in this, absolutely not thing. We thought

this was going to be very tight, just testing each other out, maybe

Warrington have had better field position, but as we thought, there

is absolutely nothing in this game. If you are going to win the

Challenge Cup, you have to push yourself to places you have never

been before, and because there has been no score, this is a water

break. Hydration will be a problem for the players, and because it is a

natural break with the ball going over the sideline, the water

carriers are on the field, getting some water into the players. Just

why we have this little break, it is worth mentioning that we are very

much in mourning this week as well, the sad passing away of Steve

Gartland, the 45-year-old ex player of Rochdale, he was a coach as well.

He is being missed by many inside Wembley today. He is in a lot of

people's thoughts in rugby league. Danny Houghton out of dummy half,

here comes Green. This is a tough, tough game, physically and

psychologically, because there has only been one penalty as well. So

the amount of time they have been carrying the ball, tackling is

phenomenal. I have to say, Hughes is putting some big hits in. Taylor,

getting up slowly. That is a poor kick. That is a bounce, which might

make it a little better. Warrington are renowned as a good kick pressure

team, and they are putting pressure on the Hull kickers, three in

different kicks because of that. Three different kickers, Sneyd

usually finishes the set. But the pressure is on. Westwood is on the

field, a character to add to the mix, as Warrington begin to move

relentlessly forward again. Bailey is out there as well, another

character to add to the mix. Here is Currie, keeps it alive, good

off-load, Sandow. Minichiello comes out and takes it back.

He was on the outside of Minichiello. Michaels trying to

force himself through that crowd of defenders to get there. Couldn't

quite. Let's look at the decision. Yes, it was a hold. That's the one

difference at the moment, the kick pressure. When they've been in the

opposition, 20-metre area, the high kicks are better. It's very

difficult for Hull to take a clean ball. That could have bounced

anywhere. If it put the ball in that area it becomes a contest. Although

Warrington weren't successful that, that's a ploy. It was well worth

continuing with. Heavy hardly mentioned Gareth Hewar,

the referee, that's a good sign. Always a good sign. A good

appointment by the rugby Football League. A part-time referee, and an

inspiration to others that you can come from the amateur ranks. He was

referee at Wakefield. And on cue he gives a penalty to Hull FC. I don't

think he had much option. The tackle is completed and there is another

effort. As Minichiello tries to regain his feet. I think that matter

was taken out of the referee's hand. And that was a good kick. Good

yardage. And there he is. Big Frank is on. Frank the Tank. Maybe not had

quite the impact that Hull were expecting throughout the season.

This was the kind of stage on which he can show his absolute pedigree.

Fonua. Michaels. A big crashing tackle from Benny Westwood. Hull

keep possession. Marvellous inside pressure on Sneyd. They are making

sure he isn't having a comfortable afternoon. And he is having a bit of

luck. As soon as he passed that ball, he had luck. Scott Taylor. The

kick from Sneyd is a troubler for Ratchford, but he smothered

possession back. Inside their own 0. Evans galloping towards the 40-metre

mark. Gareth Ellis, the Hull skipper, has an ice pack on his

neck. He is sheltering from the sun. A bit of concern about that injury

to his neck. So the kick is taken by Shaul.

A clumsy effort from Talanoa. That was a poor pass. A tired pass, and

Talanoa... That was a difficult pass to take. I think it was not

Talanoa's fault. Straight away you've just put the receiver under

pressure. They are 30 metres from the Hull FC line. He is coming in to

relieve the pressure off the forwards, but that was a poor pass.

16 minutes of this half remaining. A very good position. Position. Atkins

bobbing the ball back inside for Toby King. Ratchford to Sandow.

Westwood urging again towards the 20-metre mark. They can work either

side. Dwyer to that right-hand flank. Gives them a buzz of

electricity when he comes on from the bench in the dummy half roll. It

is offered and given to Sandow. Ratchford comes into the line. They

are trying to create the numbers. It is Atkins, and he just couldn't

quite take it in there, Matthew Russell. If he had, it would've been

a try, but he didn't, so it is not. Hull FC give themselves high fives

all around for a big defensive effort. They deserved that. They

helped their mates there. A nice shift from right to left there.

Atkins was in that space by Ratchford but the urgency of the

right side of the Hull FC defence to cover for the friend, to cover for

their team-mate, that's apparent for all to see. I thought Steve Michaels

did exceptionally well there. They just created that little overlap. He

had to make a corner and he made Atkins make a decision whether to

offload or take the tackle. Brilliant play by Warrington but

Steve Michaels on the right-wing for Hull. It is hot and steamy and

intense. And it remains scoreless. Hull FC begin the long slow path

back towards the Warrington half. No points yet, but this is a great

game. High quality from both sides. Certainly in defence. Manu patched

there, hoping to intercept, but Hull keep it. Finding their way back to

the halfway line. Sneyd, ball hits his fingertips and he drops it to

his boot, leathers it downfield. Great pressure. Warrington really

are giving him a torrid time. They've worked very hard, realising

he is such a large part of this Hull FC team. Last year he was taken off

early as well, so there's a question mark. What they've got to do now is

take the pressure off him a little bit. Takes the kicks off him,

protect him a little bit. But he to step back a little further. Take the

pressure off himself. Give him extra yard and make sure the kick is good.

Doesn't have to stand as flak. Now they are chasing him. Dwyer at dummy

half is forced to knock the ball to the ground. Great play by Chris

Green. Dwyer holding the ball in two hands. Green played at his arm and

forced the error. Clever play from the big interchange prop forward.

Dwyer picks the ball, two hands, plays at the harm. Nothing wrong

with that, just smart play. Forced the error. Hull FC head and feet.

This is Chris Green's 85th appearance today.

Great play from Jack Hughes in that scrum play. Minichiello from dummy

half and will test them down that blindside and swung his hips. But

look where they are, 10 metres inside the Warrington half. Back

towards the middle. And here comes Pritchard. He was put down. Still,

tackles are in the bag. They are reaching and testing. The pass to

Shaul, back towards the middle. Keys keeps it alive. So it is going be

Sneyd again with a little cross-field kick but Ratchford read

that really well and caught it easily. Warrington had to start from

there again. A nice ploy might be towards the latter end of this half

to put inside passes in to test the big fellas with repeat efforts. So

if they've made one tackle inside, make them make another and you might

well get a quick ruck. Also, you are going to get tired. Players are

going to get lazy. When they crop off the defensive line, drop off the

offensive line. This is an exhausting effort from both sides.

Sandow will welly it downfield. That's a good kick. Shaul watches it

swirl and curl but catches it safely. That was a good take. It was

spiralling all over the place. It looked an easy take but that was a

difficult kick. It was spiralling. Whichever teams win this will earn

their medals. We've yet to see a score, with half an hour played.

Pritchard down the middle again. They will run the tank empty today,

Frank the Tank. And that was a wonderful break down the middle. A

bit of momentum is with Hull. Ratchford gets there, but again it's

a draining position from which they start. Should have gone through the

half there. It is a penalty. Should have gone through the hands. The

last tackle, they were unorganised on the left-hand side, Warrington.

Interesting the break was made in the middle and it was by a three

quarter going at the big men. That's what's going happen. As they tire,

the quick feet will expose the bigger forwards.

And it is a game with a replay if it is all square at the end of the 80

minutes. It's the only professional game in the world of rugby league I

think which can provoke a replay. In Australia every other match, a

golden point, whether it is a knockout contest or not. But we are

a long way from that. He dropped it. A good tackle. Talanoa making the

tackle. I think he knocked on and is making the tackle. That was a good

read. There was an offload. He goes in, there's a little offload. One

pass. He had to make the tackle. He was unlucky. The referee got that

right. Great play. He is going to make the tackle and it has come off

Talanoa. But that was a good read. They had to make it, because there

was a threat down that Warrington right-hand side. This is a good

game, this. You feel it's going to erupt. A tense, hard battle with

high quality. Kicking game, defensive games. The second half,

the second act. Ratchford in the middle. Sandow offering it away to

Ryan Bailey. At the moment their defence of both sides is brilliant.

Searching towards the left-hand side but Clark can see nothing, so goes

for the middle. His opposite number is there to take the tackle.

Interesting that he's got Dwyer and Clark... It's given away, and it is

picked up by Talanoa! They have had their positions, Warrington, two or

three times when Hull's defence has come up and now they've got a

penalty and a chance to clear it away. Warrington just need to remain

composed. It is a heck of a defensive effort from Hull FC. It is

typified on the left-hand side by that man, Talanoa. His reading is

outstanding. Minichiello did well as well. Dwyer, I wasn't sure if he

felt he was offside. He wasn't offside and he timed his run to

perfection. But only one counts and that's the referee's. A big set here

now. Hull started inside the Warrington half, but how deep can

they go? Back it goes to Danny Houghton. Minichiello comes on

apace. But Houghton was waiting and inside it goes for Watts. He'll

charge down the middle and he offloads. Loads. They are taking

fuel out of the Warrington tank here in this said. Bowden is put down.

Three tackles in one. Three times, big frefrts Warrington but only one

counted because of the off-low.ds Pritchard... But Chris Sandow will

go skidding away. He has dragged his man down and pulled him down. What a

recovery from Shaul, but Warrington are still up there. It is with

Russell and Russell is over the line! A long, dramatic moment. This

Wembley final bursts wide open and it is Warrington who've the opening

score. It is a mistake but brilliant play. You have to watch it. He reads

the intercept exceptionally well. I think it is a forward. He reads it

well, but what a chase for Jamie Shaul. He didn't give up. He ran

Sandow down and Russell kept his composure. Just watch. He reads the

play. He sees Pritchard. It is an early pass and he has read it. Taps

it up and he's away. But what a chase, Jon. We are all saying this

is a try for Sandow, but look at Shaul in the background. Works so

hard. Russell is trying to make him alter the line of his run, but he

must have made 10 metres up there on Sandow. Really good work. No panic,

lots of composure and over it goes by the post.

Very good try indeed, well done, Mr Russell, you kept your head and you

got your reward, great try. The primrose and blue. That will be

demoralising for them, because they defended exceptionally well,

absorbed all the pressure from the Warrington players, and when they

were on the attack, the interception. The psychological

blow, can they come back strong? Gidley puts it over, Warrington lead

by 6-0 as half-time creeps closer. I was with Jonathan Davies, I thought

the momentum had switched towards Hull, but that fantastic

interception from Sandow, that quality finish from Matty Russell

has turned the game on its head. But this is a test of the Hull FC

character, of Hull FC's belief. Oh! The as backwards, it is OK. Any kids

that watches the game or watches rugby league, Sandow turns his back

and shoulder towards his touchline, if he drops it, it is not a

knock-on. Once again, the touch judge gave the correct call there.

Hughes on the right-hand side for Warrington, Ratchford is the man at

dummy half, a bit of a gap there. It closed up quickly. Well, Warrington

have 17 dummy half runs to three. He finds support in King, and he has

got support, a real heavy collision in the middle. Dwyer is back up on

his feet, Gidley pushes it backwards, Hughes picks it up,

Warrington are desperate for another quickfire try, but I think that was

the sixth tackle, Hull have it back again. Bodies everywhere! Holding up

here. It is absolutely draining, that is full-blooded commitment,

isn't it? Whatever it takes, I am going to do whatever it takes to

prevent a try, nothing illegal, just a matter of urgency, desperation,

determination to prevent the try. I think he got in the way there, he

went in between the ball-carrier, he had to make the tackle, that is

never a penalty. Michaels again, this has been some game! I think he

got it away, do you think? He could not get to the ball-carrier. Great

tackle. It is commitment. Three and a half minutes of the half

remaining. Some debris on the field, Hull will have possession back, so

close to their own line, so close to conceding for a second time in the

blink of an eye. How enjoyable is this game! Yeah. Hull needs to

pummel their way back as far as they can inside Warrington territory.

Taken in by Watts, Houghton comes to the right-hand side.

How sharp has he been from that position today? He has been

outstanding for 37 minutes in this heat. Sneyd will go for the kick

behind the 40, but never a 20 attempt, just get it as far

downfield as you can. Ratchford, Evans runs in hard.

Here is the try scorer, Matty Russell, a Wembley try scorer. He is

hurt, he is hurt. Every time there is a stoppage in play, the guys are

covering some metres from the sidelines, getting onto the field,

the water carriers. There is the incident there, he just caught the

need to the head, nothing illegal about that. Just a collision, an

unfortunate accident Ulster very much part of the Scottish team.

Matty Russell will be in the Scotland squad, I am sure, at the

end of the season when they take on England, Australia and New Zealand.

Matches you can see on the BBC, the four nations tournament in late

October and November. They are still smiling, they are

still enjoying themselves, only six points behind, so why not? The sun

is out. The story is not over yet, there is plenty more to come, it has

been high-quality. Hill carrying it forward with determination, as he

always does. They said in the studio, Hill looks dangerous with

ball in hand. This is Currie. Gidley with a kick to touch, how did

goes. Such an inspirational part of the Warrington side, especially the

pack, Gareth Ellis. The Hull side. Did I say Warrington? The Hull side,

sorry. He will be back out there. Interesting that he has gone for the

sideline, Gidley, to inject some energy once again, to just contain

Hull FC and go forward. But it Warrington to get the ball,

Jonathan, do you think they will be tempted to drop a goal? With a

defence as tight as this, yes. One chance again, the set has got to be

good. Running away from the 20 metres mark. The 2016 Challenge Cup

final boiling up nicely here. If they do this well, they may not have

a chance to have a set. Liam Watts, oh, and he has had the ball wrestled

from them, it went backwards anyway. Now you have got three tackles down

the middle, quick play up the middle. Tried to get the one point.

Only 30 seconds left in the half. There is urgency now, Sandow is in

control. Sandow has knocked a few important ones over this year. That

is a great carry from Hill. Sandow is going to go for the past, the

ball has gone to ground, Hull very nearly got it back. The referee has

given scrum to Hull, head and feed, but the hooter sounds. It has been a

draining but thoroughly entertaining, low scoring but edge

of the seat first half, Matty Russell scored in the 34th minute,

the only scores so far. Gidley's goal giving them a 6-0 lead,

Warrington, at half-time, but plenty, plenty more to come. We are

going to go down to the touchline in just a moment to hear from a couple

of the competence in that first off, let's hear from them now.

Such a tough part, what is it like at there? We knew it was going to be

tough, there have been a few errors, we expected both teams to defend

well on the line, both teams have done that, so a real battlefield

possession and an arm wrestled. What will be key for you to get over the

line? Keep completing sets, moving better. Cheers. Gareth Ellis is with

me, as tight as many predicted, what do you do to get back into this? We

need to be more composed, especially with ball in hand, make it count, we

have been on the back of too many errors and done a lot of defending.

Conditions are sapping. Ride-height, but that is something for both teams

to deal with. -- pretty hard. Let's show you the stats, Warrington

edging possession, more territory as well.

Warrington have made an awful lot more metres, 250 more, even just a

couple of penalties conceded each. Warrington have made more metres in

the first three tackles, 412-296. What is your overall view, Jamie

Peacock, as we go inside the Warrington dressing room? I think

the scoreline is a verified Warrington just edging it. They're

kicking has been great, Sandow better than Sneyd. We spoke about

dummy half running at the beginning of the game, and that is what they

have been doing. Have you felt the intensity of the first part of here?

Without a doubt, some brutal contact early on in the game, as you would

expect in a big game like this, but JP has nailed it - Warrington had a

big game plan to run out of dummy half, and the tail of the halve has

been Hull clinging onto that, really fighting to stay in the game. On the

flip side, Hull has struggled to break Warrington down, a couple of

reasons - both sides attack quite similar, so when they do structured

plays which they practised throughout the week, they are quite

capable of dealing with those plays, so the key is the unstructured

plays, the Sandow intercepts, Clark out of dummy half, Matty Russell out

of dummy half. The unstructured players are what will win this game,

and Warrington are doing that better than Hull. We talked about how

strong both defences are before the game, for those people who are with

us for one game a year, and hopefully they will come back for

more! How do you sell this as a game of rugby league, despite the fact

that it has not been free-flowing? The prowess and desire shown by both

teams is exemplary, you should watch this as a bladder to real tussle in

the Colosseum. Michaels, for example, Jamie Shaul, the amount of

passion to get back, and it did not in the end affect the dry, they got

it on the next play, but it shows the huge commitment of both teams.

The only difference between the two is an intercepted play, and we have

talked about how good they are attacking wise, but they are pretty

good defensively, and they are building the living daylights out

of... Oh! The living daylights out of each other! That would have kept

people watching whatever, if you had let a cheeky one out there! Let's

ignore him, I will talk to you two! There is no room for sympathy and

rugby league, but a huge amount of Sciver the four Jamie Shaul that his

efforts were in vain, but you have to praise Chris Sandow as well. --

sympathy for. It is what they have been doing all game, instinctively

getting on the end of the intercept, what commitment from Jamie Shaul,

great chase back. If he had not tried to escort sure, Russell might

have scored on the first play. -- escort Shaul. Sandow is an

instinctive rugby player, touch football player, he wants to get the

ball in hand, looking for opportunities like that. And that is

off the back of the patience of the Warrington team, Jamie is right,

they are kicking better, but what an effort from Shaul. Does not stop the

try in the end, but coming off the back of some frustration. Frank

Pritchard makes the play, Sandow sniffed it out. Warrington have

disrupted Hull's play, a lot of their tactics is about disrupting

Sneyd. Every time he has touched the ball, he has been hit by a

Warrington player. They have come to frustrate the Hull team. They are

very similar sites, so the key to the game is the bits between the

place. He is a smart coach, he has done his defensive tactics, Sandow

has come up, they are effectively taking him out of the game. You

mentioned that this is what Sandow does week in, week out, and there

were earlier examples in this Challenge Cup final. This is part of

the defence of Tony Smith, get up behind the ball and close him down.

They consistently did this throughout the game, you can see

them edging up, let's get past the ball. Sandow is a smart player,

right? He is not a big bloke, he does not want to make a huge amount

of tackles, but defending like that almost makes the other side go back

inside, and what it does is give you an opportunity, it should be player

but the ball in front of you, Sandow is in the position to intercept the

ball, that is smart play. When we play against him, do not put

anything long around him, Sandow will pick it up.

Given that it all happens in a split second, how much would Frank

Pritchard have been aware that it was Sandow who was in that position?

The game goes so quickly, when you are in that situation, how do you

know? If Pritchard plays earlier, Sandow's in the wrong position. The

play works for Hull, so Sandow has to get that right, as he's being

aggressive and creating numbers for the Hull team. If he gets it wrong,

Hull could score there. You are talking a split second. Hull need to

change their tactics in the second half. They have to stop threading

that ball over the top and come through the middle. I agree, stay in

the middle, stay patient. Here we see the defence exemplified there. I

think we need a plus two kicker. What I mean by that is Sneyd Sneyd

Sneyd is their first option for a kicker. When Smith's tactics close

them down, they've got no get out clause. Stick to a second option to

kick deeper. When you are playing against an aggressive defence there

are two ways to deal with it. One is stop them coming up aggressively.

The second is to play early. Play with your centres and wingers.

That's a great tactic and I will be surprised if Hull don't do that in

the second half. And if your kicking game isn't firing on all cylinders,

that adds extra pressure does it? You've all said maybe the kicking

game hasn't been kick for Hull. Part of that is down to Sneyd and part of

is it the pressure point for Warrington. He was there all the way

through it. He gets lucky with this kick but throughout the game he's

been poor with it. That's down to his own skill, but Sandow has been

outstanding with his kicking. Although Houghton has kicked the

ball and Tuimavave has kicked the ball, the pressure was on Sneyd. He

needed every kicking responsibility, whereas Sandow's kicked, Gidley has

kicked and they balance themselves off nicely. Sandow's ability to pick

off space with the ball is almost impossible to defend, let me tell

you. Hull would have come up with a plan to stop Sandow from kicking 40,

20s. Sandow picks this opportunity, spots the space and kicks it in a

way that's impossible to defend. So what do you do as a coach if you

need other options just to take the pressure off Sneyd a little bit? You

mentioned a couple of things. Take another step further back so he has

more time to pick his space. You also have maybe a second option to

set themselves up. Or kick earlier when the opportunity not to be

pressured by this Warrington defence is there. I would like to see the

centres or the wingers kick from out wide. That would take pressure off

Sneyd as well. We talked about the Houghton-Clark battle and the runs

from dummy half. One of the exciting things if you are a Warrington fan

or coach is this, when the game becomes unstructured, Warrington are

renowned for planting up when Clark goes into dummy half. He creates

speed and distance from his own line and creates field position for his

team. Look, he is chomping at the bit to run out of dummy half. I

believe it is one of the key differences between the two sides.

When the game is unstructured, Warrington come to life. When the

game is unstructured, I believe Hull struggle more in that style of game.

This is a huge point Jon is making. Danny Houghton hasn't been as

effective but he's been effective when you consider what Warrington

did running out of dummy half. Early in the game the Hull defence was on

top. As the game gets unstructured, has more tiredness in both ranks,

we'll see the prowess of Houghton for Hull, Michaels maybe, but

particularly Clark. So on the unrushed thing, are you saying that

Warrington have greater players to deal with the unstructured phases of

the game? We've got guys who embrace running out of dummy half when the

defence is unstructured and not set. I think Clark and Ratchford and all

those guys get excited when the ruck's quick. They have had a lot of

quick rucks into that half, with the likes of Pritchard, Sika Manu. I

think the Hull players are more about creating quick balls and

taking advantage of them. If you look at Hull FC's back line it is

about creating and not taking advantage. We saw what Danny

Houghton and Daryl Clark can do. We with now hear what they do. Both

players have worn the player mic for us this afternoon.

Pressure. Keep building, Carlos. Arm wrestle, boys.

That's the difference. Chris Hughes gone.

A quick one on that, they are saying similar things aren't they, no

errors, focus, it's an arm wrestle, boys. They are saying quite similar

stuff. I think the Jack Hughes one was more of hope. He will say to

himself, Chris Hill has gone, I hope. The energy of the team and the

encouragement and the enthusiasm. Great voices. And they've been less

close to swearing than you over the course of that first happen. Now to

pitch-side, as Tanya Arnold is with a legend of the game who this time

last year was already on his way to picking up the Challenge Cup. I'm

with Kevin Sinfield. Rather than just turn up and enjoy the game,

you've got your boots on. What have you been doing and what is it in aid

of? It is only a year since we had a very special day. I've been here as

a guest of the RFL, but to have a go at the lack borrowds crossbar

challenge. There was a chance to win ?120,000 for charity. But even

though I didn't do it, Ladbrokes have donated the money. Money. You

have to put yourself out there sometimes. I was more nervous than I

ever was before a game, but now I can relax. You spoke about last

year, a special day for you all. Very much so. And for the viewers at

home, down here pitch-side you won't believe how warm it is. Every time

I've played here I've cramped after 60 minutes. Some of those guys look

really tired. For the game to be in the balance like it is, expect a

great second half. You start a new job with the RFL next week as rugby

director. What is it and what do you hope to achieve? A big posh title

and a big announcement, but I'm still in that transitional phase of

coming out of rugby. Not quite ready for that full-time role yet. Two

days a week. To be part of the England set-up and also to be part

of some of the grass roots stuff that's going on is really important

to me. I'm trying to grow the game in different way that we can. But

also working with Super League. I was able while I was playing to get

a business degree. To be able to use that alongside some of the great

people in Super League is fantastic. Just great to be back in the game.

Good luck to you. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you in the

future. Thank you very much. Thank you to Kevin Sinfield for talking to

us. He performed in the pre-Challenge Cup final school boys

game, Denis Betts and Phil Clark. 30 years ago. Steven Mullaney was

another schoolboy who played in this game. This was in 1986. He scored a

superb solo try as Wakefield schools defeated St Helens 17-0. Tragically

Steven died in a road accident the following year, so as a tribute to

him, this game is renamed the Steven Mullaney memorial game. And stars of

the future will always come through this game. Earlier today we had

Castleford Academy against St Peter's of Wigan. Castleford 6-0

down early on, but this individual effort from Riley Brown brought them

level. And in what was a close contest, Castleford wrapped up the

win with seven minutes to go in the match. They worked the ball over to

the right side with this kick across field from Ben Dean. It was finished

in the corner by Daniel Gayle. Ched Walker is in the box to present the

trophy to Castleford Academy. And that... Look at the celebrations!

That is as a part of a Challenge Cup final day as the main game itself.

Brilliant, fantastic to see that. It is great to see the community in our

National Stadium. Maybe a few of them will be in Hull KR's Academy

before long. Maybe one day. What do they have to do the get back into

this? Control the ruck. Hopefully they can crack this great Warrington

defence. Brian? I think Warrington are in the box seat. They keep doing

what they are doing, narrow offensive dummy half will prove the

difference between the two teams. Thank you. Warrington are on their

way out. Hull are already out. We join John Kear, Jonathan Davies and

Dave Woods. 40 minutes of history making awaits for one side or the

other. Warrington are leading at the moment. Stuart Pearce is there. He's

big mates of the Warrington coach Tony Smith. I think he handed

toutiers device the Warrington players last night. We've been

trying to find out who handed out the jerseys to the Hull players. And

Lee Radford said Mike Bassett, but we think he is pulling our legs. In

2005 you handed them out as a Hull coach. That's right. It was us

against the world. That's the attitude they'll need to take. For

me Hull FC, this second half it is like the semifinal which was nip and

tuck against Wigan. They came out in the first quarter, the third quarter

of the game and they offloaded and caused Wigan some problems. A

two-pass kick behind the up-coming Warrington defence, some inside play

or early play. It is set wonderfully well isn't it. Just the one score in

it at the moment. Whether it gets blown wide open or stays tight and

tense for what remains. So much at stake from both sides' point of

view. The first set of the second half comes to an end with Sandow

putting the ball high in the air. And Michaels catches it safely

enough. The tackle is made. Oh, he's lost it! A terrific effort by

Atkins. They get a penalty, because Hull rolling on. Immediately the

coach says two points. It is not like Tony Smith. He wants to keep

the ball in play, but not today. It is all about the scoreboard. It

doesn't matter if you win by one point or 101, the prize is the same.

That was frustration. The ball had been out, a clean catch. I'm sure

that's going to be peppered that corner of the field. The sun is very

much in the eyes of the centre and the wing on the right-hand side for

Hull. It was a very good take by Michaels, but he lost his focus.

There is frustration in giving the penalty away. A bonus for Warrington

early in the second half. We are waiting for their tea now. It is a

big kick, this. You say it's simple for a kicker of Gidley's ability,

but in these conditions... He was swinging a leg around. Going through

a few shadow kicks, almost as if it has come early in the second half,

he isn't properly warmed up again. I wonder if they are fatigued as well.

Took an age to get there, so he was staying relaxed. Nine times out of

ten he kicks this. It is quite a simple kick for Gidley. He would

expect to kick it. And he has taken the full minute as part of the laws

of rugby league. You've got a full minute to take the kick. He is

milking that time. So much so that the referee has called the clock

off. Gidley, this could be the decider,

and he chips it. Oh, he's put it wide. The connection there didn't

seem all that confident. All things being equal Warrington get the ball

back here. The drop out on the 20, but that's two points missed. That's

a sitter. Didn't look confident. You have to put every penalty into

context, and that is massive pressure, start of the second half

of the Challenge Cup final, and he has fluffed his lines. He has lent

back on it and pushed it right, he will be disappointed with that. It

will be interesting to look back on that, and Hill has dropped the ball,

to compound the error. Hull FC find themselves in position inside the

Warrington half with ball in hand only six behind. As we mentioned,

momentum is massive, and that two points, that mistake, the missed

kick, that really sets up Hull. DRS showing it to whoever fancies

running onto it, here comes Fonua, real handful, gets the ball away. --

Tuimavave. That is the way to do it, that is the way to do it!

Hull said their camp 20 metres out. Running it back towards his left

hand side, Minichiello will track back from whence he came. With a

surge and an urge, asking a lot of the Warrington defensive line. The

Hull fans are getting their voices in, it is chaste, it is missed, and

in the end Rashford carries its safe underneath the sticks. The drop out

will come, Hull FC are turning up the screw now. -- Ratchford. We have

seen the kicks in behind the winner, exactly what we called for,

outstanding from Hull FC, when you felt that Warrington may be looking

comfortable, and all of a sudden they are looking shaky. There is an

injury as well, I saw the arm go up straight. It is tense at the start,

let's hear what was said at half-time. Lee Radford walked by me

taking up the high position in the stand, looking calm and relaxed, he

has told his players he cannot fault their defensive effort. One two good

chances blown in the first half, need to work on field position,

back-up the dummy half. In the Warrington camp, Tony Smith very

happy with the first hour for his side, said defence will be key and

we need to respect the ball, up the kick chase good, try to pin Hull in

their own half. Both sides had huge crates of ice taken in at half-time.

Houghton runs away from dummy of again, gets the pass away! Tuimavave

chopped down less than ten away, the referee says it is another six

tackles. Here comes Houghton, and on the right-hand side is Liam Watts.

He is that close to the Warrington line. Houghton stands and waits and

punches it out to the right-hand side. Warrington take it! That is a

winger playing in the central position. What... ?! His brain has

exploded in the heat! What the heck is he doing on tackle there?! I

cannot answer that. Warrington have been let off. Big mistake. He just

blew it. Warrington run hit back. Is certainly a different Hull side now,

they were safe in the first half, they did not look for the off-load,

but a spate of off-loads in the second half, that has broken the

Warrington defence. The King brothers on the field together.

Plenty of brothers in arms stories down the years. That is a good

chase, that. In these conditions, that is a good distance kick and a

good chase. Trying to hustle their way forward

again, more collisions. Collected and scampered. Oh, that took a

Warrington touch, oh! The referee says not gone. Is the touch judge

going to help him? I think he will. It goes to the touch judge. I think

this is going to be a reverse decision. It is a mistake. Well done

any end. They got it right in the end. The referee unsighted, the

touch judge saying, let's have a look at that again. It doesn't

matter how they come to the decision as long as it is the correct one.

Unfortunately for Minichiello, he thought he was away. But the tackle

is made, it is a scrum, let them come down.