McCarthy ready to face Dragons’ back-row threat

Hull KR loose forward Tyrone McCarthy believes that the bak row is where Catalans Dragons’ biggest threat lies.

The two Super League sides clash in the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup this Thursday evening at the KC Lightstream Stadium, and Ireland international McCarthy is ready to meet the French threat head-on.

“We know what Catalans’ threats are,” he said.

“They probably have the in-form back row in the competition with players like Elliot Whitehead and Zeb Taia, and they’ve got Scott Dureau running things for them in the middle.

“We’re looking to do a job on them, and we need to turn up with the right attitude if we want to be in the hat for the semi-finals.”

McCarthy is well motivated for the clash, which he believes is a big game in the Robins’ 2015 campaign.

“It’s a massive occasion for the club. It will be even more special if we were to make it to the last four,” he added.

“I think my experience in the Cup will help us, but everyone in the squad knows that they have to perform on the day in a knock-out scenario.

“A semi-final appearance would be great for the club and fingers crossed we can get the win on Thursday.”

McCarthy has played at Wembley before, during his time at Warrington, when he was fortunate enough to win the Cup twice, scoring a try in 2012.

“Scoring at Wembley is definitely up there with my best achievements in the game,” he said.

“It’s always any player’s dream to play at Wembley from when you’re young, but to also get over the white line in a final was even more special to be a part of history.”