Jack Hughes: Challenge Cup dress rehearsal going to be interesting

Warrington back-rower Jack Hughes said Friday’s game against Catalans is going to be a strange one for both sides.

The Wolves beat Leeds Rhinos 48-12 at the University of Bolton Stadium on Sunday to reach the Challenge Cup final, while the Dragons eased past St Helens 35-16 in the other semi-final.

Warrington and Catalans face off in the first round of the Super 8s on Friday, and Hughes hopes the game can be used as a dress rehearsal to the final on August 25.

He told loverugbyleague.com: “It’s going to be interesting on Friday.

“It is good playing them before we play them in the final, we’ve got them at home so it’s a big game. We can pick them out and hopefully we can pick out what we need to do in the Challenge Cup.

“It’s been a quick turnaround. It’s hard when we have got a game again on Friday because we can’t afford to think too much about the Cup. We will put it to the back of our mind because we can’t let things slip in the Super 8s because that is pretty ruthless itself.

“It was a good day [on Sunday] and we got to where we wanted to be, but we will only think about the final the week it comes around.”

Warrington are in a good place right now, with them sitting fourth in the Super League table and in the Challenge Cup final.

But Hughes says the team aren’t getting ahead of themselves just yet.

He added: “We’re in a good place at the minute.

“We are on our way to Wembley and we are close to securing a top four spot, but the Super 8s is pretty ruthless. Teams can soon catch you if you go lose back-to-back games.

“We need to put Wembley to the back of our mind for the moment and get back into the Super 8s this week.”