By Andy Hampson

Last updated 09:25, Saturday, 30 August 2008

HULL captain Lee Radford admits victory in tomorrow’s Carnegie Challenge Cup final would salvage a season that has been “as bad as it gets”.

The Black and Whites have languished in the lower reaches of the engage Super League all year, their campaign chronically undermined by injuries, and 11th looks their likely finishing position.

Poor results led to a change of coach in May with Richard Agar replacing Peter Sharp and a transfer target in Michael Dobson ended up at rivals Hull KR.

The cup run has come as a surprising and welcome antidote but even that has been mired in controversy after the club were found to have fielded an ineligible player, Jamie Thackray, in the early rounds.

There were calls for their expulsion from the competition but they escaped with a fine and have taken full advantage of their reprieve to book a Wembley date with St Helens.

They go into tomorrow’s showpiece as huge underdogs given Saints’ formidable cup record and current form, but Hull-born Radford is relishing the contest.

“It’s been as bad as it gets,” said the 29-year-old former Bradford second row when asked about his side’s year. “Roller-coaster is probably a bit of an understatement.

“I’m just really pleased we can finish the season on a bit of a high after reaching the cup final.

“If we can get that result it will probably put the disastrous league form well and truly behind us.

“Finishing second from bottom is not where we expected to finish. At the beginning of the season we were looking to push the top four and it has not turned out that way.”

Radford began his career with home-town Hull but spent seven successful years with Bradford from 1998-2005, winning three Super League titles and two Challenge Cups.

He returned to Hull in 2006 in the hope of achieving more success but after appearing in the Grand Final that year, Hull have underachieved since.

Radford feels they hit their nadir this year, particularly after a defeat away at Harlequins in May.

“It was Pete’s last game,” Radford said. “When we came in at half-time we had a good lead and we threw it away in the second half.

“After that game was probably as low as I have felt in my career.

“I was sort of kicking myself and the team were kicking themselves but the cup run has salvaged a bit of pride for ourselves so hopefully we can make the most of that.”

Radford was sorry to see Sharp, an affable Australian, leave but admits the mood at the club has now changed under his former assistant Agar.

“Speaking to Pete and seeing him the last few weeks when he had the job, he was pretty run down,” Radford said.

“He lost a lot of weight and you could physically see that he was under a lot of stress.

“Richard was due a step up. He’s been assistant now for several years and done a great job and he’s continuing that with the first team.”