Why the Challenge Cup final will be extra special for Huddersfield captain Luke Yates
The Challenge Cup final will be a special day for everyone involved at both Huddersfield and Wigan on Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
However, Giants captain Luke Yates will have extra motivation to lift the prestigious cup – his mum has travelled in from Australia.
Yates admitted that they had never originally organised the planned visit for the Challenge Cup weekend – almost as if fate had planned it for them.
His mother watched him play for the first time since 2018 last Friday as they claimed a hard fought 17-16 victory over Toulouse in Super League.
Her second game? The Challenge Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Luke Yates’ extra motivation for Challenge Cup
Yates told Love Rugby League: “My partner and her mum are coming down. I’ve also got my mum over coincidentally at the minute. So, she’ll be coming down as well.
“Her first game since arriving was against Toulouse over the weekend. It was the first time watching me since the end of 2018.
“She’s timed her run pretty well. We had it booked in January and I didn’t know about the scheduling!
“We timed it so she was here for her birthday and to come watch us play in France against Catalans. It sort of just worked out perfectly.
“I think she’s getting the train down on the day. She’s looking forward to it.”
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Yates says he is looking forward to playing at a new stadium on Saturday with his Huddersfield side.
An adopted City fan, the 26-year-old is looking forward to the opportunity to tick another stadium off the list, having played at Wembley for Salford in 2020 in the cup final.
He added: “The Challenge Cup final, wherever it’s played, if it’s played in the backyard, we’ll be excited for it wherever it is.
“It’s a cool stadium to play at and another one to tick off. It’s very exciting times.”
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