Challenge Cup final preview
Match preview of Saturday's Challenge Cup final between Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos at Wembley.
Leeds are appearing in their 25th Challenge Cup final seeking a 13th win - only Wigan, with 30, have more final appearances. A defeat for the Rhinos would set a new record of 13 Challenge Cup final reverses - they currently share the unwanted record of 12 with Hull FC
Hull KR are appearing in their seventh Challenge Cup final, having previously won just once at the showpiece event - by 10-5 against Hull FC in 1980. The Robins' last Wembley appearance was in a 15-14 defeat by Castleford in 1986.
The Rhinos have the overwhelming advantage when it comes to Challenge Cup final experience - with a combined total of 49 appearances in the showpiece event in their squad compared to just five in the Hull KR ranks. The only Hull KR players with previous Challenge Cup final experience are Graeme Horne, Tyrone McCarthy and Shaun Lunt, all for other clubs.
The Robins have 25 players yet to appear in a Challenge Cup final, compared to 10 Rhinos players awaiting their debut at the event.
Leeds coach Brian McDermott is taking charge of his fourth Challenge Cup final, having previously coached the Rhinos at Wembley in their 2014 victory against Castleford, which followed defeats in 2011 and 2012 to Wigan and Warrington.
Hull KR coach Chris Chester, in his first full season as a head coach, takes charge of his first Challenge Cup final although he did play as a substitute in Hull FC's 25-24 victory over Leeds at the Millenniu
Hull KR coach Chris Chester has named Albert Kelly in his 19-man squad but insists the Australian scrum-half will not play at Wembley unless he is 100 per cent fit.
Kelly has been a revelation in his first season in Super League and has played a key role in the Robins' run to their first Challenge Cup final for 29 years, but he has been sidelined since the semi-final over Warrington with a knee injury.
The former Gold Coast Titan looks certain to face holders Leeds on Saturday, but Chester admits he is mindful of the experience of another Australian, Gavin Miller, on whose fitness Hull KR gambled the last time they went to Wembley.
Miller's hamstring injury severely affected his performance and contributed to Rovers' 15-14 defeat by Castleford in that 1986 final.
Young half-back Matty Marsh, who has been placed on stand-by for Kelly, is not included in Chester's provisional squad while Ben Cockayne and Kieran Dixon are both named as the coach waits to announce which of them will get the full-back spot.
Leeds coach Brian McDermott has included in his 19-man squad forwards Mitch Achurch and Brad Singleton, who did not play in the semi-final win over St Helens but will be hoping to make their Wembley debuts after missing out on last year's final success against Castleford.
Hull KR: M Allgood, M Blair, J Boudebza, B Cockayne, K Dixon, J Donaldson, J Green, G Horne, A Kelly, K Larroyer, S Lunt, T McCarthy (capt), J Mantellato, T Puletua, L Salter, K Sio, D Tilse, A Walker, K Welham.
Leeds: Z Hardaker, T Briscoe, K Watkins, J Moon, R Hall, D McGuire, R Burrow, K Leuluai, J Peacock, C Ablett, K Sinfield (capt), S Ward, B Delaney, M Achurch, A Cuthbertson, B Singleton, J Keinhorst, A Handley, M Garbutt.
