Lee Radford confident Hull FC can avoid Hull KR-style Challenge Cup embarrassment

Hull FC coach Lee Radford hopes revelling in last year's Hull KR Challenge Cup final humiliation does not come back to haunt him on Saturday.

Radford admits he had a smile on his face when Rovers were routed 50-0 by the Leeds Rhinos in last August's Wembley showpiece despite starting out his life as a Red and Whites supporter.

Rovers were knocked out in their first match of this year's competition, by Championship side Oldham, but Hull FC have beaten Super League rivals St Helens, Catalans Dragons and Wigan to reach the final as part of an impressive season that sees them top of the Super 8s table.

Ladbrokes Challenge Cup Final Highlights

Of last season's Rovers defeat, Radford said: "The stick I'd have received if they had come away with a result that day would have meant my life wouldn't have been worth living in my part of the world.

"The fact that it muted a lot of their spectators after that was quite pleasing.

"I was a red and white as a kid, up until the age of 13 or 14, then I signed for Hull as a 15-year-old and swore my allegiance to the black and white side of the city and the rest, as they say, is history."

Radford won the Challenge Cup with the Bradford Bulls back in 2003 as a player but, after making the move to his hometown team in 2006, has since been on the losing side in two further finals.

That means Hull are still looking for their first Wembley Challenge Cup success and Radford added: "I've had two terrible experiences of the nation's capital.

"In '08 we just came up against a St Helens team that was star-studded but in 2013 I think it was the worst Challenge Cup final in history.

"I thought it was a great advertisement for how not to approach a Challenge Cup final and one I'm hoping we can learn from.

"I think we got caught up with the occasion instead of playing to our capabilities. That's happened on numerous occasions over the years so it's easier said than done but the fact that we've got three or four players still involved with the club that were there that day can use that experience and go about it in a different manner.

"I think we're a more rounded side, likewise the opposition. They are two quality sides. It's no coincidence they're sat where they are in the league table after so many rounds.

"The team that turns up and performs the best on the day will take the result because I don't think there is much between us."