Gidley hopes for last hurrah
St Helens’ Australian star Matt Gidley is looking to write a glorious closing chapter to his playing career in England with a third Carnegie Challenge Cup winners medal.
The 33-year-old centre will bid farewell to Super League at the end of the season after four successful years at Saints to return Down Under and is hoping to bow out with memories of another Wembley success.
Saints meet Leeds Rhinos, the team who have beaten them in the last three Engage Super League Grand Finals, in an eagerly-anticipated Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final at Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield on Saturday when Gidley will have his sights on revenge and glory.
“It would be great to regain the cup with Saints. I’ve really enjoyed my four years over here no matter what happens to us this year,” he said.
“To go out on a winning note in the Challenge Cup final and to do well in the Super League would be a fantastic way to finish.
“There have been some thrilling games that I’ve played in against Leeds over the last four years whilst I’ve been here, both in the Challenge Cup and in the Super League.
“Leeds have won the last three Grand Finals and they’ve been a wonderful team for the four years whilst I’ve been here but even the Cup matches throughout the years against Leeds have been closely fought games.”
Like many of his fellow countrymen, Gidley grew up as a boy in Australia watching the Challenge Cup final live on television in the early hours of the morning.
“It was played in the middle of the night back in Australia and I have great memories of getting up to watch the game,” he added.
“I always remember that they were good entertaining games and always passionately supported by the fans.”
Tickets for the Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final between Leeds Rhinos and St Helens at the Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield, on Saturday August 7 (2.30pm), are priced from £18 (£5 concessions) and are on sale from the RFL Ticket Office on 0844 8561113 or by visiting www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk.
Tickets for the Carnegie Challenge Cup final at Wembley on Saturday August 28 cost from just £21 and are available from the RFL Ticket Office on 0844 8561113 or by visiting www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk.
