RUGBY LEAGUE: CHALLENGE CUP FINAL^ Daily Express Friday, August 23, 2019^63
DX1ST
my form to tell you the truth. I’m
trying to forget about all that now and
put everything into this week to show
what I can do.
“As a team we’ve not been doing
our basics right and especially this
week we’re going to have to get that
right and flip it on its head.
“The semi-final win over Hull gives
us a lot of confidence because we were
just starting that drought around then,
and weren’t believing in ourselves as
much as we should.
“We turned it on for the game,
because in the cup there’s no next
week, it’s 80 minutes or you’re out.
We’ve definitely got the personnel to
do it again.”
Tomorrow will be extra special for
Patton’s family, with younger
brother Junior playing for Great
Sankey High School in the
traditional year seven
curtain raiser.
Patton added: “It’s
great for the family –
my dad is made up
with his two sons
playing at Wembley
on the same day.
“I’m not sure if I’ll
get chance to see the
whole game but I’d like
to get out and see how
he’s going on.
“He’s a half-back like
me – he’s probably a bit
better than me to be
honest!”
By Gareth Walker
Picture: TIM CLAYTON
Live and exclusive
26 Aug - 8 Sept
Go to amazon.co.uk/usopen
World Championships in
Beijing, just 13 months
after the birth of her son.
2017: England’s record
goalscorer Wayne Rooney
announced his retirement
from international football
with immediate effect.
2018: Trainer Mark
Johnston claimed a
record-breaking
4,194th career victory
in Britain after his
racehorse, Poet’s
Society, won at York.
Australia by 197 runs in
the fifth Test at the Oval,
completing a 2-1 series
victory.
2011: Arsenal agreed
terms with Manchester
City for the sale of France
midfielder Samir Nasri.
2013: Scotland striker
Kenny Miller announced
his retirement from
international football.
2015: Jessica Ennis-Hill
won the heptathlon at the
THOSE WERE
THE DAYS
1938: England’s Len
Hutton made what
was then the highest
individual score in
Test cricket, against
Australia at the Oval.
His 364 surpassed Wally
Hammond’s 336 not out
and stood until Sir
Garfield Sobers made an
unbeaten 365 in 1958.
2004: Kelly Holmes
won gold in the 800m at
the Athens Olympics –
the first part of her
middle-distance double.
2008: GB’s James DeGale
won gold in the men’s
middleweight boxing at
the Beijing Olympics.
2009: England regained
the Ashes after beating
ON THIS DATE IN SPORTING HISTORY
what, it’s first and second
in the table.
“They’re like a wounded
animal and will want to
come out fighting, and
we’ve been striding ahead.
It’s going to be like the
clash of the titans.”
GARETH WALKER
McCarthy-Scarsbrook says
they can handle that
pressure – even though he
expects a tight contest
with Warrington. He said:
“I don’t mind going in as
favourites – bookies hardly
lose do they? It will be a
tight game no matter
LOUIE McCarthy-Scarsbrook
has no issues with
St Helens being given the
favourites’ tag tomorrow.
The runaway Super
League leaders are odds-on
to lift the trophy for the
first time in a decade. And
London-born forward
‘It will be clash of the titans’
BLAKE AUSTIN says he is
“shattered” after being left out of
Warrington’s squad for tomorrow’s
Challenge Cup final against St Helens.
The half-back has been struggling
with an ankle injury since the defeat
at Catalans three weeks ago.
Coach Steve Price said earlier this
week he would give the 28-year-old
until today’s captain’s run training
session to prove his fitness for.
Price then omitted him from
yesterday’s required squad, although
doubts still surrounded whether
Austin could be a late call-up as the
Wolves have done in the past.
Coaches can bring in players after
that deadline if somebody else is ruled
out through injury by the club’s
medical staff. Warrington fielded
full-back Stefan Ratchford in the
semi-final win over Hull FC
after he was left out of the initial
19-man announcement.
But Austin posted on Instagram
yesterday afternoon: “Shattered,
but wasn’t my time I guess. Can’t
wait to cheer the boys on, we’ve
got a strong squad and a game
plan to match, lessssgo.”
Austin’s usual half-back
partner Dec Patton says
Wolves can turn around their
form when it matters most at
Wembley. Warrington have
lost their last five Super
League matches.
But local lad Patton, 24, is
confident of getting it right
on the big stage tomorrow. Patton
said: “I’ve not been very happy with
It’s agony for
injured Blake
LOW POINT:
Austin receives
treatment
after ankle
injury
HIGH
HOPES:
Patton
MILESTONE: Hutton
scored 364 to set a new
Test record in 1938
RELEASED BY "What's News" VK.COM/WSNWS TELEGRAM: t.me/whatsnws