Scully confident of cup triumph
Last updated 15:49, Friday, 29 August 2008
ONE of the great modern-day rugby league players will be hoping to take to the field tomorrow, in what will be his last Challenge Cup final in a St Helens shirt. And twice Man of Steel winner Paul Sculthorpe, 30, knows he still has a job to do and isn’t dwelling on the future.
Saints have given the Burnley-born star permission to talk to ‘other clubs’ as his testimonial season comes to a close and he has already been linked with Wigan Warriors, Salford City Reds and Wakefield Wildcats.
But Scully believes he still has a lot to offer, and is not ruling out another Wembley appearance after already picking up winners’ medals four times (2001, 04, 06 & 07), even though he missed last year’s final against Catalans Dragons with an Achilles injury.
“I know I have still have a lot to give but I’m not even thinking of next season. I have a job to do with St Helens,” he told Inside Rugby League.
“I want to finish on a high and that’s all I’m thinking about. I don’t know what I am doing next year yet as I have a number of options on and off the pitch. Saturday’s final against Hull won’t be any more emotional than other Challenge Cup finals as there are more games to play and, hopefully, this season will end with a Grand Final victory.”
The bookies aren’t giving Hull a serious chance tomorrow, Saints starting 1/8 favourites, the Humbersiders 9/2. And even before the Super League play-offs have started, St Helens are 4/5 to win the Grand Final at Old Trafford on Saturday, October 4.
“It’s going to be an exceptional game and you can’t judge Hull on their lowly league position,” said Sculthorpe. “They haven’t had many injures of late and aren’t in the play-offs. So they will be focused on this one.”
He singled out former Cronulla Adam Dykes as the main man in the black and whites’ side. Dykes signed for Hull at the beginning of the year and played more than 200 games in the NRL with both Cronulla and Parramatta.
“Half-back Dykes will be the main threat and he has a great kicking game. He is one player we must pressure,” added Sculthorpe. “They are a big, strong side and will be out to give us a game. Cumbrian Ewan Dowes has also had another good season and I expect him to play well, and they also have Willie Manu in their ranks.”
Winning the Grand Final has, like the Challenge Cup, has become a bit of a habit for Scully, victories in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2006 adding to his more-than-impressive record. Having joined Saints from Warrington Wolves in January 1998 for a then world record fee for a forward, £370,000, the then 20-year-old has not let his side down, his 10-year career culminating in a testimonial season that will signal the end of his time at Knowlsey Road.
Having made more than 260 appearances in the famous red and white, and over 100 for the Wolves, injuries finally catch up with the elders of the sport.
Having missed almost all of the 2006 season through injury, he signed a one-year contract with Saints at the end of last season. And after a 42-20 win at Huddersfield Giants on Sunday, a game which saw Scully, who has represented Great Britain 26 times and England six, play 80 minutes after
missing two games with a hamstring injury, Saints will leave him out of their starting line-up tomorrow at their peril.
A Hull supporter since the days of Steve ‘Knocker’ Norton, Gary Kemble and James Leuluai, in my heart I will be shouting for the Black & Whites tomorrow, and joining in ‘Old Faithful’ at the final whistle. I don’t know whether it’s called over-confidence but their official website states: “Hull FC are hoping to have a special guest at the Player of the Year Awards Dinner at the KC Stadium on Tuesday, September 2nd - the Carnegie Challenge Cup.”
But in reality, my rugby head says there’ll only be one winner, and one of the nicest guys in sport, Paul Sculthorpe, will be picking up his fifth Challenge Cup winners’ medal just after 4.1pm tomorrow afternoon.
As they say, let’s hope for one great game and may the best side win.
TONY HARRISON
