Chris Hill happy for Warrington to have underdogs tag
Warrington captain Chris Hill admits they are happy to go into the semi-finals as underdogs against League Leaders’ Shield winners St Helens.
The Wolves face the Saints at the Totally Wicked Stadium in the first Super League semi-final of the weekend on Thursday, 7:45pm kick-off.
Saints are favourites to win the Grand Final because they have been at the top of the table all year, and Hill is content with the underdogs tag.
He told loverugbyleague.com: “We are going into the game as underdogs which we are happy with.
“Saints have been in top form all year and they deserved to win the League Leaders’ Shield. They’ve been quality but we know form could go out of the window in the semi-finals and we’ve been building in the last couple of weeks.
“League leaders means nothing on the night and we know that more than anyone. We are 80 minutes away from walking out at Old Trafford and the loss of the Challenge Cup final gives us that little bit of extra motivation.
“Semi-finals don’t come very often in your career and these type of games is why you play rugby. We know we’ve got a tough task and the intensity has risen in training this week and there are more than 17 blokes fighting to play for us in the game so we are looking good.”
Chris Hill has appeared in three Grand Finals – all for Warrington – but has been on the losing side on every occasion.
But the England star is hungrier than ever to get his hands on a Grand Final winners’ ring.
He added: “I’ve been to Old Trafford three times and I’ve been unlucky three times.
“But again, that’s why you play rugby. You want to be back there playing at the biggest stages and I want to be back there leading the boys out.
“We’ve got to win on Thursday and we definitely won’t be take Saints lightly. We’ve got to keep hold of the ball against them, it’s as simple as that. We’ve got some great strike players but I think whoever takes the game by the scruff of the neck will win it.
“Obviously St Helens is only down the road and the Warrington fans travel in good numbers as it is, so I think ticket sales are going well and it is going to be a great game.”