Gareth Elllis: Will be Hull FC’s key man in Sunday’s semi-final at Huddersfield’s John Smith’s Stadium
Richie Myler: Back in Warrington’s 19-man squad for Sunday’s semi-final against Hull FC
Warrington Wolves and Hull FC meet at Huddersfield’s John Smith’s Stadium on Sunday with the teams battling for a place in the Challenge Cup final.
Tony Smith’s Warrington come into the contest knowing that success over the Black and Whites will seal a fourth trip to Wembley in the last five seasons.
Wolves are the team to beat in the cup having won the trophy in three of the last four years, beating Huddersfield in 2009 before going on to topple Leeds Rhinos in 2010 and 2012.
Hull FC are not without success in the competition themselves. In 2005 they upset favourites Leeds 25-24 at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium with Paul Cooke’s drop-goal separating the sides.
They have featured at the new Wembley once, the appearance coming in the 2008, however, on that day they suffered a 28-16 loss to St Helens.
The Wolves come into the match in fine form having won seven straight in Super League, a run that includes beating the likes of Leeds and Wigan since being upset on home soil by Hull FC.
Losing run
Peter Gentle’s team were on song to see off the Catalan Dragons in the quarter-finals, but they have now lost five straight in league action since toppling champions Leeds in May.
Smith rested a number of key personnel for last weekend’s success over Hull KR with the likes of Simon Grix, Adrian Morley, Richie Myler and Ben Westwood returning to the squad to face Hull FC.
“They’re the last team to defeat us on our ground and it was a terrific game of Rugby League. They are a capable team and we’ve got a healthy respect for them.
“They’ve got some terrific outside backs, big strong young men who can score tries, a good half-back combination and a tough pack of forwards.
“They are very, very good opposition for this week, a good challenge for us but hopefully, if we can play the way we like to play and to the degree we like to play at, we’ll make a good match of it.”
Ruled out
Hull are without rising star Ben Crooks after he was ruled out for the remainder of the season after sustaining a leg injury in last Friday’s 19-12 defeat to the Bradford Bulls at Odsal.
The experienced Richard Horne will play no part against the Wolves, although Daniel Holdsworth and Liam Watts have both been named in Gentle’s 19-man squad.
“Against Warrington you have to weather the storm early, then in the middle and then at the end,” Gentle told the Hull Daily Mail.
“They are a good team. They throw the same at you week in, week out. Everyone knows their role, defensively they are good and they are the form team in the competition.
“They have a very full squad at the moment. We are trying to second guess their 17 and some of the quality players that are going to miss out gives you a fair indication as to how much depth they have got.”
Hull FC: Arundel, T. Briscoe, Crookes, Ellis, Green, Heremaia, Houghton, Holdsworth, Lineham, Lynch, McDonnell, Miller, O’Meley, Pitts, Tickle, Watts, Whiting, Westerman, Yeaman.
Warrington Wolves: C. Bridge, Briers, Carvell, Cooper, Currie, Grix, Harrison, Higham, Hill, Hodgson, J. Monaghan, M. Monaghan, Morley, Myler, Ratchford, C. Riley, Waterhouse, Westwood, Wood.
Tetley"s Challenge Cup preview: Hull FC v Warrington Wolves
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