Parker: The Cup is Special

Rob Parker and his Warrington Wolves team-mates are going to St Helens on Saturday with two objectives in mind

First, they want to make it through to next week's Sixth Round draw of the 2008 Carnegie Challenge Cup and, second, they want to sink the hoodoo that has seen them unable to beat the Saints in any of their last 22 Cup and League meetings.

"You never can tell with the Carnegie Challenge Cup," he says. 'That's the magic of the competition.

" Since I signed for Warrington three years ago I've never been able to understand quite why Saints have this hold on us and we're going to Knowsley Road ready to compete with them.

"Last weekend we came up with a scratchy win over Huddersfield Giants in the 'Magic Weekend" at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

"It was the typical 'tale of two halves' and we thought at the time that if we could do the same to us as they had to us in the first half that we'd come out on top because the Giants couldn't handle it. And that's what happened.

"We haven't been playing badly this year even though some of the results have gone our way, we compete for the full 80 minutes and we're very confident about our defensive ability.

"One thing is for certain St Helens will not be taking us lightly. We were very disappointed when we lost to them in the last few minutes of a league game last month and they'll know for certain that we'll be bringing our 'A' game with us on Saturday".

The change in the weather conditions is also part of the Parker thinking. "Now that it has dried out and the sun is starting to shine it'll be about teams who can play good football at speed. That'll suit both Saints and us.

"We've got some Australian blokes in our team like Matt King who have had to adapt to weather conditions that have included snow, driving rain and mud. Now with a bit more warmth on their backs they'll feel much better.

'They haven't been too impressed with the British weather so far but during the last few days when the sun has been shining I've even heard a couple of them saying 'it's too hot',' smiled former England captain Parker.

"We know what Saints are capable of and they showed real form when they beat Wigan comprehensively in Cardiff last Sunday. They'll want to carry on where they left off in that match and they'll know we're also in a mood to play good football".

Parker is a confirmed Carnegie Challenge Cup enthusiast. He explained: "This competition is so special. I've heard people compare it with soccer's FA Cup because there's always the chance of an upset when the top teams can be surprised on the day.

"Look what happened in this year's FA Cup when Barnsley sent both Liverpool and Chelsea tumbling out of the competition. It's all about what happens on the day and as players we know that you have to be on song or risk going out. There are no half measures in the Cup".

Rob has already tasted the heady experience of winning the Challenge Cup because he was a member of the Bradford Bulls team that downed Leeds Rhinos 24-22 in the classic 2003 Final at the Millennium Stadium.

"It's easily the best thing that's happened to me in the Challenge Cup," he said. "It was an amazing day and so many things crowded into the day and the match that really don't remember much about it in detail.

"The match all swung on Leeds' decision to turn down a penalty kick at goal seven minutes from the end which would have tied the scores.

"We were defending like fury at that stage but we were able to hang on until the final whistle. It was an amazing experience and one I'd like to have again with the Wolves".