Wellens ready for big match

Aug 25 2007

HAD he not been playing in the first final at the new Wembley, St Helens’ Great Britain full-back Paul Wellens would have been among the 80,000 crowd – cheering on his home-town team.

He did just that at five finals at the old Wembley, long before he established himself as the best full-back in Super League.

“I’ve experienced the joys and the disappointment of Wembley from that side of the fence,” said the reigning Man of Steel.

“I was only seven when I first went in 1987 and we got beaten by Halifax 19-18. Then in ’89 we got beaten 27-0 by Wigan – that was bad enough – but then we lost again to them in 1991.

“We finally won it in 1996 against Bradford Bulls.

“We went behind, and I must admit I thought ’here we go, we’re going to get beaten again’.

“They were 14 points ahead with 20 or so minutes left – but then Bobbie Goulding put three high bombs up for three tries, and it got us back into the game.

“In ’97 I had just started out with the juniors, so I had one foot in the door at St Helens but never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get the chance to play at Wembley myself.”

Wellens has already experienced Cup final glory in Cardiff in 2004 and at Twickenham 12 months ago – but he reports the return to Wembley has provided players with extra incentive to reach this year’s showpiece occasion.

“It’s a new experience for everybody, and we’ve every right to be excited about it,” he said. “A lot of people say, when they experience a big occasion, they crave more – and having experienced the success we did last year, the guys are really excited about going to Wembley and, we hope, retaining the Cup.”

Wellens is expected to complete a hat-trick of Cup winners’ medals, with Saints going into the match as hot favourites against the lowly Catalans Dragons.

But the Frenchmen followed up their shock semi-final win over Wigan with a sensational 21-0 ‘nilling’ of Saints in the Super League in Perpignan just a fortnight ago.

“They weren’t fancied at the start of the competition, but we’re certainly not surprised now,” admitted Wellens.

“After seeing their performance in the semi- final against Wigan, you could understand why they are there – and especially with the way they played against us in the south of France.

“They’re a great team.” They have a very big and proven set of forwards, and Stacey Jones behind them has got all the experience in the world.

“They have quality right across the park. You only have to look at their team sheet to see why they’ve made it to the final.

“We’re hoping that 21-0 defeat has given us a kick up the backside. They are no mugs - and if we’re not on our game, they’re a team who are more than capable of winning the Challenge Cup.”