Lee Radford says meeting Wigan Warriors in Challenge Cup final would be 'fairytale'
Tuesday 1 August 2017 20:26, UK
Hull coach Lee Radford is hoping to meet Wigan in the final of the Challenge Cup after securing an immediate return to Wembley.
The holders made short work of Leeds in the first semi-final, finishing strongly to gain a 43-24 victory at Doncaster, and will play the winners of Sunday's tie between Wigan and Salford on August 26.
Radford has vivid memories of Wigan's 16-0 win over the Black and Whites at Wembley four years ago and believes this week's announcement that the Super League duo will together undertake a three-week tour to New South Wales in February would make it a mouth-watering Cup final.
"I really hope we get Wigan in the final," Radford said. "I was involved in the coaching staff in 2013 and it's fair to say we didn't do ourselves any favours that day.
"And, with announcement that we're both going to Australia, it would be fairytale final and I'm sure our players would revel in it."
Hull shaded the first half, but only went in front with Chris Green's try on the stroke of half-time after England winger Ryan Hall had produced two spectacular finishes for Leeds.
Centre Carlos Tuimavave scored his second try of the match early in the second half and Hull cut loose in the final quarter to put the seal on their best performance of the season.
"I was really confident of getting a result, but it went better than I could have expected," Radford said. "It's super pleasing as a coach when you see it come to fruition.
"You get a sense of when you're on and I felt that during the week. It all came to fruition.
"Everything we set out to do in the week was executed nigh on to perfection and the effort and willingness to work for one another was really special.
"How we starved them of field position in the second half was particularly pleasing."
Hull were dominant up front while stand-off Albert Kelly impressed on his return from injury, scoring one try and helping create three others, and his half-back partner Marc Sneyd kicked seven goals from as many attempts in a match-of-the match display.
"Marc has been off for the last three or four weeks, but I thought he took control of the game today and got the team around the field," Radford added. "His kicking was second to none."
