Rugby League: Final date will leave legacy, says Jones

Jul 31 2007 by Ian Laybourn, Liverpool Daily Post

CATALANS DRAGONS captain Stacey Jones believes a first Challenge Cup final appearance will leave a legacy for French rugby league, regardless of the result of next month's showdown with St Helens.

The 31-year-old New Zealander played a key role in the establishment of another outpost club, Auckland Warriors, and their run to the 2002 Australian Grand Final, and helped the unfancied Kiwis reach the last two Tri-Nations Series finals but he rated Sunday's 37-24 semi-final win over Wigan among his most notable achievements.

"It's certainly right up there," he said. "One of the reasons I came to this club was to help French rugby league get to a level where they're going to be strong internationally.

"Hopefully something like this will not only be great for us as players and for our supporters but for the young kids in France coming through who will think this is a great game to play."

Jones, who recently signed a new 12-month contract to play for the Catalans in 2008, believes his appearance at the new Wembley against holders St Helens on August 25 will be one of the highlights of his distinguished career.

"When you're a kid watching the Challenge Cup, it's not only the English players but the players Down Under who see it as a massive occasion," he said. "It will be a dream for all of us."

The appearance of the Perpignan club in the final will provide an unexpected bonus for St Helens, who will now be able to satisfy the huge demand from their supporters for tickets.

The Rugby Football League were ready to put up the "house full" signs, having sold 55,000 tickets before the semi-finals, which left 10,000 for each of the finalists and approximately 15,000 reserved for Club Wembley members.

The Catalans, who took around 500 fans to Warrington for the semi-final, expect about 2,500 to make the trip to Wembley, paving the way for Saints to take an extra allocation.

The League are also negotiating the purchase of spare Club Wembley seats in the event that the final heads for a 90,000 sell-out.

Meanwhile, Dragons coach Mick Potter, who went to Wembley as part of Bradford's backroom staff in 1997, will attempt to take his players' minds off the Cup final as they prepare to revert to Super League action.

They are only two points above bottom club Salford after losing their last three League matches and, although they are immune from relegation, Potter is desperate to avoid a second successive wooden spoon.

The Dragons visit last year's beaten Cup finalists Huddersfield on Sunday before taking on St Helens at the Gilbert Brutus Stadium and returning to the Halliwell Jones Stadium to take on Warrington six days before the final.

"We'll enjoy this for the next day or so but for me it will be one day and then I'll begin the process of building up for next week," said Potter.