Saturday 29 August 2015 19:16, UK
Hull KR coach Chris Chester is calling on ex-players to help his side overcome the pressures of playing in a Challenge Cup final.
Chester himself lifted the trophy as a substitute when Hull FC upset the odds against Leeds at the Millennium Stadium in 2005, and is well aware of the temperament needed to play in a final.
Ten years on, in his first full season as a head coach, the former Halifax and Wigan back rower has guided the Robins to their first final for 29 years and it will be just as big a shock if they topple the holders at Wembley.
Only three members of Chester's unheralded team have previous experience of a Cup final and that was with different teams, but the rookie boss has taken steps to ensure his men are going to be relaxed when they run out in front of an 80,000 crowd on Saturday afternoon.
"Looking back as a player, I was a bit of a nervous wreck," he said. "I don't want that to happen to these boys.
"We've drawn on a lot of experience from ex-players that won the cup back in 1980 and they really motivated the boys leading up to the semi-final and quarter-final and we'll pretty much do the same.
"I'm a lot more relaxed as a coach. It's important I keep these guys relaxed as well and keep everything as normal as possible.
"We know how big an occasion it is and we don't want to be like rabbits in headlights. I'm confident we won't be. We're going to go there and enjoy ourselves and play a brand of rugby we've played all season."
Rhinos favourites
Leeds, who have 12 members of last year's Cup-winning team set to return, are the biggest favourites since Wigan were toppled by Sheffield Eagles in the biggest-ever Wembley upset in 1998 but skipper Kevin Sinfield is determined his side will not under-estimate their opponents.
"We've seen how dangerous Hull KR can be, having beaten Warrington and Wigan," said Sinfield, who will make history by captaining a team in the Cup final for a seventh time. "We've had two really tight games against them this year.
"Although someone out there is creating favourites and underdogs tags, for us players it's irrelevant. We all know it's that 80 minutes on the day that determines who picks the trophy up, not someone sat in a bookies.
"We expect to see the best of Hull KR this week and hopefully they will see the best of us.
"We've talked about how relaxed we were last year and we've followed a similar approach this year."
If Saturday's final ends in a draw at full-time, Huddersfield's John Smith's Stadium will host the replay on Tuesday, September 8.
The Challenge Cup final is the only rugby league match that goes to a replay rather than be decided on the day by golden point in extra time.
Leeds: Zak Hardaker, Tom Briscoe, Kallum Watkins, Joel Moon, Ryan Hall, Danny McGuire, Jamie Peacock, Carl Ablett, Kevin Sinfield (c), Stevie Ward, Brett Delaney, Adam Cuthbertson, Mitch Garbutt.
Subs: Rob Burrow, Kyle Leuluai, Mitch Achurch, Brad Singleton.
Hull KR (probable): Kieran Dixon, Ken Sio, Liam Salter, Kris Welham, Josh Mantellato, Maurice Blair, Albert Kelly, Adam Walker, Shaun Lunt, Tony Puletua, Kevin Larroyer, Graeme Horne, Tyrone McCarthy (capt).
Subs: John Boudebza, Dane Tilse, James Donaldson, James Green.
