I understand where Dropkick is coming from. I would perform self-surgery to remove one of my kidneys if it guaranteed us a Grand Final win. Just one win is all I want. One would be sufficient to last me 20 years. Recalling the elimination semi in 2011 still forces me to curl up in the foetal position and shake, as I think it was the best shot we ever had at winning it. Strangely, last year’s defeat at OT didn’t hurt quite as much, but still ruined the next four weeks of my life. I didn’t think we had a realistic chance of winning it this year, so had almost given up, but as we approach the business end of the season, we look like our old legs might just have one last realistic shot at it.
Failing to win it this year will probably close the door for a few years at least. We have to win at OT this year. We have to do it. Given our recent cup successes, winning the Grand Final is worth so much more to the club than any further Challenge Cup could possibly be.
Even at 16:10 last Sunday afternoon, the Huddersfield quarter-final meant very little to me. I wanted to win it, but it may as well have been a home league game against London for all I cared. As such, I wouldn’t have been remotely bothered if we’d lost it, as the two weeks’ rest in August would have done us good in pursuing the main prize. However, come the final hooter after another great cup display, I was very pleased that we won and now feel that we are too close to winning the cup again to not go all-out for it.
All this talk is, frankly, a bit silly. We all know there is no rule in life or rugby league that says you can’t win both trophies. Frivolously sacrificing one does not mean you will win the other. You cannot horse- trade in kidneys or Challenge Cup semi-final defeats in order to guarantee a Grand Final win. So since we’re already in the semis, we may as well try and win the cup and take it from there.
The same goes for top spot. There is nothing negative that can come from finishing there, so why some people seem to think we shouldn’t bother aiming for it - or even try to throw it away should we somehow find ourselves there with a couple of games left - is beyond me.
Can I just say Brett Hodgson is quickly becoming one of my favourite non-HKR player in SL. Applauded the numbers of Rovers fans pre-match, took the banter well all game and is a general credit to your club.
Not to mention how the hell he gets up after getting pummelled almost every tackle, great little full-back!
Quotegaryhulsefan="garyhulsefan"Apparently Bridge was being sick.'"
If memory serves this used to be a weekly occurrence due to nerves, not sure whether this is still the case or he has 'got over it' for want of a better word.
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