“Our focus is on the Grand Final and playing at Old Trafford. That’s what I’ve been striving for my whole career.”
In the bowels of Wembley on Saturday afternoon talk quickly turned to the Super League grand final. Hull FC had just retained the Challenge Cup trophy with a memorable 18-14 victory over Wigan. In a game that constantly ebbed and flowed, with no more than eight points in it between the two sides, Hull just snuck home in the final stages. Wigan even managed to cross in the last minute, but the pass had crept forward and the Black and Whites were victorious.
Last year when Hull won the Cup the celebrations went on for weeks. The parades, the drinking, the partying, the rest of the season was clearly a distraction for the Airlie Birds. Unexpectedly their title challenge in Super League fell away completely.
But you get the feeling this won’t happen in 2017. This Hull FC side is a little wiser, a little more experienced and a little more disciplined than 12 months ago. With the Wembley monkey on their back well and truly slayed, there is now bigger fish to fry. Veteran forward Mark Minichiello certainly he feels that way. Less than two hours after the final had finished he revealed that the Super League grand final has always been their main target this season.
“Now that we’ve won the Cup again that’s where our focus lies,” he told The Sportsman.
“We want to put a few wrongs right from last year. We bowed out in that semi and we don’t want to do that again this year. That’s [a grand final] what I’ve been striving for my whole career. Hopefully this year we can go on and do that.”
At 35 years of age and after 16 years at the top level, time is precious. Minichiello knows this could be his last chance. And with Hull FC already toppling league leaders Castleford twice this season, the Black and Whites have as a good chance as any, if not more. Hull’s experience in the big one in 2016 against Warrington certainly helped them on the weekend.
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“I was little bit nervous, I probably wasted a little bit of energy last year,” Minichiello admitted.
“I was a lot more relaxed having done it last year and felt a lot better out there. I knew what to expect and tried to stay a bit looser - have fun with the boys and take it all in. I did that and didn’t gas myself in the first 10 minutes this time.”
In a tight final Hull FC couldn’t put Wigan away despite dominating possession for most of the second half. The Warriors finished strong in the final minutes but couldn’t find the miracle try to steal the Cup back. The resolute defence of Hull, their commitment and never-say-die attitude, will serve them well as Old Trafford beckons. It is that kind of grit that wins finals.
“Wigan hang in there in all their games,” Minichiello said.
“You know you’re going to have to go to the death with them and a Cup final is going to be no different. When they got some ball and their outside backs started to get in there, our forwards were a bit tired. They started to get on top and it was just a case of trying to stay square and not give them a place to run to. I thought everyone defending outstandingly today. We just got the job done.”
