Challenge Cup: Chris Chester hopes for happy Wembley return
Last Updated: 30/07/16 2:05pm
Wakefield coach Chris Chester admits the circumstances are uncannily similar as he attempts to steer an unfancied team to Wembley for the second year in a row.
A year on from guiding Hull KR to a shock 26-18 Ladbrokes Challenge Cup semi-final triumph over Warrington, Chester aims to repeat the feat with Wakefield against the Wolves at the Leigh Sports Village on Saturday afternoon.
Hull KR went into last year's semi-final on the back of a four-match losing run, including a 52-12 mauling at St Helens, before beating the Wolves at Headingley and the Wildcats have won just one of their four Super League games since beating Huddersfield in the quarter-finals.
"There is a little bit of deja vu," Chester said. "They've been going very well in the league, very consistent, and we're in a pretty similar position to where Hull KR were last year. The last three or four weeks we've not been great and we're coming into the semi-final off a big loss, as did Hull KR.
"But I think last year proved that anything can happen on the day. We're going to have a real go at this. Now that we're safe in the top eight, the confidence in the group is still pretty good.
"There's not a great deal of pressure on us. We're 80 minutes from Wembley and that's enough motivation for my players."
While Warrington have tasted Wembley glory three times in the last eight years, it is 53 years since Wakefield's last cup success and 37 years since they last reached the final.
Wakefield born and bred, Chester still lives in the city and admits it would be a thrill to lead them out at Wembley in his first season at the helm but says it would be especially rewarding for chairman Michael Carter after he brought the club back from the brink of financial ruin.
"Personally, it would be great to lead my home-town club out at Wembley," he said. "I know, as a supporter myself, what the club has gone through over the last 10 or 15 years.
"We've finally got someone at the club who has put it on a sound financial footing - it's being run like a proper business - and I'm pleased for Michael that he gets a taste of semi-final football and who knows what can happen.
"I was one-year-old the last time we got to the cup final and the last time we got to the semi-finals, at Doncaster in 2008, I actually went to watch. It's been a long time since this club has been involved in big games and we're going
to make the most of it. Our fans are really excited, as are the players."
Warrington coach Tony Smith plays down comparisons with 2015 but knows Wakefield are capable of pulling off big wins, as they have demonstrated this year at the expense of both his own club and last October's Grand Finalists
Wigan and Leeds.
"Last year is last year," Smith said. "It's a different group, different teams, different situations, it's down to what happens on the day.
"They're a very dangerous team. They're able to beat any team on their day - they've beaten us already this year. We're very aware of that."
Chester concedes the Wolves are a different proposition this time around and pinpoints experienced Australian stand-off Kurt Gidley for the explanation.
"Warrington are a totally different team to what they were last year, mainly due to the quality they're brought into the halves," Chester added.
"For me Kurt Gidley is probably the best half-back in the competition. He controls the game really well and in Chris Sandow you've got someone who can kick a 40-20 from anywhere on the field and he's playing with a lot of confidence at the minute.
"So the half-backs have been very impressive, as has Ashton Sims and Chris Hill, and Daryl Clark has hit some form as well. They've got some players peaking at the right time."
Warrington Wolves: Ryan Atkins, Ryan Bailey, Daryl Clark, Ben Currie, Brad Dwyer, Rhys Evans, Kurt Gidley, Chris Hill, Jack Hughes, George King, Toby King, Declan Patton, Kevin Penny, Stefan Ratchford, Matty Russell, Chris Sandow, Ashton Sims, Joe Westerman, Ben Westwood.
Wakefield Wildcats: Scott Anderson, Tinirau Arona, Joe Arundel, Jordan Crowther, David Fifita, Liam Finn, Craig Hall, Ben Jones-Bishop, Max Jowitt, Danny Kirmond, Reece Lyne, Jacob Miller, Scott Moore, Nick Scruton, Mikey Sio, Anthony Tupou, Bill Tupou, Jason Walton, Andy Yates.