Second final date for Chris Hill

Warrington forward Chris Hill will be looking to follow up last season’s Northern Rail Cup victory while at Leigh, with a win in Saturday’s Challenge Cup Final against Leeds.

Hill, 24, played a key part in the Centurions run and dramatic victory over Halifax at Blackpool last season, and has been in fine form for the Wolves for much of this season since making the step up to Super League in the close season.

He said: “It’s brilliant to be involved at this stage of the Cup. It’s the competition you always looked at and dreamed of playing in as a child and hopefully I’ll be in the 17 next weekend.

“It’s a little bit surreal to think that I played in the Northern Rail Cup final last year and could play at Wembley this year. It’s way above what my expectations were as I didn’t think I would have played as many games for the club this season as I have done.

“Tony (Smith) told me I’d get my chance during the season and I knew it would be tough with such a great group of players at Warrington, but I’ve tried to grasp every opportunity and hopefully I can stake a claim to play at Wembley.”

Hill won two Northern Rail Cups while at Leigh, and made his Super League debut with the Centurions as a 17-year-old back in 2005.

He has been the subject of a marketing campaign by local newspaper, the Warrington Guardian, in recent weeks, who have produced a cardboard cut out to replicate his trademark headguard.