CHALLENGE Cup king Robbie Hunter-Paul has called on Huddersfield Giants fans to turn Salford Claret and Gold.

The Giants face Warrington Wolves in their semi-final clash at the Salford City Stadium a week tomorrow and Lance Todd Trophy winner Hunter-Paul wants the Huddersfield fans to play their part.

“I don’t think people realise how important supporters are to the players,” said Hunter-Paul, himself a Challenge Cup winner who played for the Giants in the 2006 final against St Helens at Twickenham.

“The fans can have a real effect on the outcome of games like these.

“To know you have a strong support base behind you not only gives you the confidence of knowing you’re not alone, but also helps create the energy, excitement and momentum going into the game.

“As you walk onto a foreign pitch and you see and feel your supporters their singing with pride and passion it raises you so high that it is very hard to explain in words, your adrenalin pumps through you and your heart beats at a million miles an hour, it is truly amazing”.

Hunter-Paul recalled the Challenge Cup semi-final win over Leeds Rhinos in 2006.

“I remember my first year at Huddersfield in 2006 and we were a growing club,” he said.

“We made the semi-finals of the Cup that was played out at Odsal Stadium on a cracking hot day.

“We went into the game as huge underdogs against a Leeds team that had been dominating the Super League during that era.

“We had a quiet confidence about ourselves and thought if we can just get into this game, who knows what might happen.

“Our support had grown throughout the season and we were there in good numbers.

“Like us they got a taste for the game, we got stuck in and as the minutes ticked by our supporters grew more vocal.

“This raised us up and with twenty minutes to go, we were carried on a wave of emotion flowing down from the terraces.

“There was no way we were going to let that game slip.

“We had momentum, we had the support, and ultimately we had the game.

“It was one of my highlights in all of the semi-finals I played in and I know it would not have happened without the support of our fans.

“The mix of elements you need to be successful is not easy but one thing I do know is you need to have a good number of supporters showing their passion and wearing their colours and this is why I want to encourage all of the Giants supporters, all of Huddersfield to get behind your team and get down to The City of Salford Stadium and dress it inŠClaret and Gold.”

Tickets are still on sale with prices starting at £18 for adults and £9 for concessions from the Galpharm Stadium ticket office which is open 9am until noon today and Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. Supporters can also buy online at www.giantsrl.com