LMS on his “home game” at Wembley, ticket requests and form goes out the window
Photo courtesy of Richard Long
St Helens prop Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook says anything can happen ahead of Saturday’s Challenge Cup final against Warrington at Wembley.
Though having a final of the top two teams in Super League would normally be seen as a mouth-watering contest, such has been Saints’ dominance over the past two seasons that they enter this game as heavy favourites, 4/11 with Betfred.
Warrington have lost seven of their last nine games in the league, have been beaten three times by Saints already this season, and will be without star man Blake Austin through injury.
McCarthy-Scarsbrook said: “It’s a cup game, so anything can happen.
“I don’t think you can take form into it. I think emotions ride on it, and the atmosphere will be built by both fans.
“The best team wins on the day. If you’re looking at form then yeah, we’ve done really well and we’re playing some good rugby and long may it continue.
“You can’t get away from that winning mentality and when you win tough games, hopefully we can keep that momentum going and come away with the big win on Saturday.”
For Lewisham-born LMS, it’s somewhat of a homecoming for the former London Broncos man, playing in his first Wembley final.
He has tasted final success with St Helens before, part of the 2014 Grand Final winning team which upset the odds to beat Wigan after the infamous Ben Flower sending off.
He added: “It’s about 40 minutes (from home) to Wembley, so I’ve dropped the wife and kids off there already.
“I drove past Wembley and it’s a fantastic site and it’s like a home fixture for me.
“A lot of my family have been asking me to get tickets, I think the current level is that I’ve asked the club for is 99 tickets!
“Being a mad football fan as a kid, I always wanted to play at Wembley. I never thought I’d be doing it with the oval ball, but it’s not too bad!
“The Challenge Cup means so much to all the clubs involved, especially Saints, and with the history in the competition as well it’d be great to bring it back to St Helens.”
St Helens take on Warrington in Saturday’s Challenge Cup final at Wembley, kick-off 3pm, followed by the first 1895 Cup final between Widnes and Sheffield.