Watkins wants Rhinos to retain Challenge Cup

Kallum Watkins wants Leeds Rhinos to set the target of retaining the Challenge Cup after a slow start to their Super League season. 

The Rhinos currently sit bottom of the Super League table, with just three wins from their opening 13 games and now looking increasingly likely of failing to make the top eight ahead of the split.

Therefore, this weekend’s Challenge Cup fixture against Huddersfield Giants provides a new challenge for the club and Watkins wants the Rhinos to set a target of retaining the cup they won back in August of 2015.

“Obviously our season has not been great,” Watkins told the Yorkshire Evening Post. 

“But this is a new competition and the Challenge Cup is very special, especially to this club over the last couple of years. It can give us a bit of springboard and a bit of a boost. We are looking forward to this game, against a strong team.

“We know we need to improve and this week is going to be tough. Obviously it is a huge challnge for us, but hopefully we can get some players back, like Zak [Hardaker] and Cuthbo [Adam Cuthbertson] and come up with a better performance than last week.

“We weren’t far off last week and it has always been tough and intense between us and Huddersfield. We have worked hard this week in training and hopefully we can perform well on Friday.”