Pritchard: The doubters can think again
Hull FC forward Frank Pritchard says the Black and Whites have proved the critics wrong with their dramatic Challenge Cup victory at Wembley.
And Pritchard says his team wants to go on and add a grand final win to their trophy cabinent at the end of the season.
“They wrote us off all year,” Pritchard told Love Rugby League.
“Us as a group, we’re a pretty tight group and we knew that if we’d give ourselves a chance and stay in the fight we can win games.
“That’s been us all year and credit to the boys. We’ve got a good bunch of boys and our coaching staff. It was nail-biting stuff.”
Pritchard said winning at Wembley is one of his career highlights.
“It’s definitely up there,” he admitted.
“Wembley, it’s never been done before, especially with Hull FC to get that monkey off the back the suppporters have been waiting for.
“The team can hold their head high and rewrite history and just enjoy the next couple of days.”
The veteran said Hull FC never thought they were out of the game despite being behind for most of the match.
“It was bloody hot out there,” the Samoan international said.
“Conditions like that, both teams were feeling the pinch. Especially being 10 points behind the whole game and in heat like that.
“We were using the interchanges pretty fast. All it takes is one specila thing from Mahe Fonua.. we knew we were always in it, it was just a matter of time.
“My head was down but we came in at half-time and regrouped and the coach gave us a good slamming.
“It [Danny Houghton‘s tackle] was definitely in the top three tackles of my whole career.
“There’s a few boys in the team who should be up for Man of Steel, he should be up there.
Pritchard hailed Marc Sneyd‘s kicking game and wants Hull FC to claim more trophies this year.
He did it for us last week a couple of times, he always gets us out of trouble,” he said.
“Things like that [the 40-20] change the momentum of the game. Especially that one last in the second galf, it was a momentum swing for us.
“When I signed with FC we weren’t in anyone’s top four this season. All the doubters can think again.
“But we want to brilliant, get a ring at the end of the year as well. This is just the start.”