Hull FC's Gareth Ellis aims to end career by winning double
Thursday 24 August 2017 16:42, UK
Gareth Ellis is determined to keep alive his dream career finish by winning the first part of the double at Wembley on Saturday.
The 36-year-old will bring the curtain down on a glittering 18-year professional career at the end of the season, but there is no danger of the fiercely competitive former England forward coasting towards retirement.
Ellis will lead out holders Hull against Wigan in the Challenge Cup final this weekend before turning his attention to a prize that has so far eluded the Black and Whites.
Lee Radford's side were top of Super League 12 months ago but after beating Warrington at Wembley they faded badly and missed out on the Grand Final.
Hull are well placed for another crack at the play-off semi-finals and Ellis admitted there was a greater appetite to maintain their form through to Old Trafford.
"We were really disappointed with how our season petered out last year after the Challenge Cup final," said the Hull captain.
"You can say all the right things and think you're doing the right things but a bit of that hunger disappeared after the Challenge Cup.
"We like to think we've learned from that and the plan for this season was based around peaking at the right time. That time is now so it's a big finish to the season.
"Winning the double is the fairy-tale finish and fortunately it's still alive."
After hanging up his boots, Ellis will succeed Motu Tony as Hull's manager, with the aim of helping to build a dynasty.
"I signed with an ambitious club driven by Adam Pearson and obviously Lee Radford's involvement over the last four years has really taken us to that next level," said the former Wakefield, Leeds and Wests Tigers back-rower.
"When I joined Leeds I sort of jumped on the bandwagon because they were almost on the cusp of an era glutted with silverware, whereas Hull were right at the beginning of the journey.
"So it's nice to have been full cycle and be at a point now where we potentially could be a team that is challenging on all fronts for the next 10 years. That's the dream."
