Cup agony drives Robinson

Huddersfield scrum-half Luke Robinson has revealed that a potent blend of regret, relief and burning ambition is motivating the Giants ahead of their Challenge Cup fifth round tie at home to Catalan.

Robinson featured in the Huddersfield side beaten by Warrington Wolves in the 2009 Cup final  at Wembley in what he describes as a bittersweet experience, but while the half-back is dreaming of glory he knows his Huddersfield side are lucky to still be in the competition after coming within minutes of a shock defeat to local rivals Batley Bulldogs in the fourth round.

“It was a bit of a relief to get through the last round,” said Robinson. “I was watching from the stands with my dad and with about 20 minutes to go I thought the Cup dream was over, but good teams can win even when they don’t play to their best and that’s what we done.

“We’ve analysed every minute of that game and we’re under no illusions as to how we need to improve and hopefully now we can progress to the next round because getting back to Wembley would be massive for me.

“I think every English lad dreams of playing and winning at Wembley and that’s something we all tell the overseas players about. They come from a competition where the Grand Final is the be-all and end-all but I think the Cup is massive here because it has so much history and everyone at the club wants to make it to the final and win the competition.

“We got there in 2009 and Warrington beat us and that’s a bittersweet memory for me personally and lots of the lads played in the 2007 final when they lost as well, so we’re always the bridesmaid never the bride.

“I have a losers medal on my mantelpiece and it’s a huge motivational factor for me because there is no place worse to lose than at Wembley in the final – every players wants a winners medal on their mantelpiece and that’s a huge motivational influence for me.”