Giants coach Nathan Brown: Challenge Cup Final questions

Aug 27 2009 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Are you confident of going to Wembley on Saturday and winning the Challenge Cup?

We are feeling confident, yes.

Apart from the first half against Bradford, we feel as if we’ve played some good footy over the past six to eight weeks, both as a team and as individuals.

That’s been the key to our success this year, and that will be the key to our success on Saturday.

I think everyone knows what’s required against Warrington this weekend to win, and the minute we forget what has got us to where we are now is the minute we’re in trouble.

From the moment you arrived at the Giants you said this was the most hard-working group of players you’d ever worked with. Is Saturday’s final their reward for that?

Yes it is.

People often talk about the importance of the work you put in during the week to help you get the result you require.

But reaching the Challenge Cup final is something that has been determined by all the hard work that was put in in November, December, January, February, March, April, May, June and July – and it’s a reward that really couldn’t be much better.

Did you ever really imagine when you took the job that you’d be leading out the team at Wembley in the Challenge Cup in your first year?

To be honest, when I first agreed to come I wasn’t sure what to expect. I certainly wasn’t thinking about reaching the Challenge Cup final, although it’s obviously fantastic that we have!

All I was thinking about was to try and make the players – and the team – more consistent, and to make some slight adjustments to the players’ games to try and bring the best out of them.

Fortunately, the end result of that is a Challenge Cup final – and I couldn’t be more delighted for the players.

But I’m also delighted for so many more people associated with the Giants.

I’m obviously delighted for Ken and Jennifer (Davy), who have put so much money and time into the club over the years, as well as all of the Huddersfield supporters.

It’s been a very long time since the club got to Wembley, and a return for them is certainly long overdue.

If we can get the required result, I know I’ll get some real joy in seeing big smiles on all the faces.

I’ll feel very happy to have played a small part in what should be a fantastic occasion.

So how highly will Saturday rate in your rugby league career?

I suppose I won’t really know until the day itself.

I’ve been lucky enough to play in some big games in the past back in Australia (including three NRL Grand Finals).

But there’s no doubt it’s an exciting time and, I have to admit, I’m looking forward to it.

When I was growing up back in Australia, I always watched the Challenge Cup final and thoroughly enjoyed it as an occasion. It was an event that excited me.

And now we’re getting close to the big day, I’m getting even more of a sense of how important and how much status there is attached to a Challenge Cup final. I certainly feel lucky that I’m going to be a part of something like this.