A number of key men are hitting form at the right time for Hull KR
Jez Litten has delivered on the biggest stages for both Hull KR and England in recent months.
Hull KR may be on a nine-game win streak but Jez Litten believes the best is still to come from Willie Peters’ side as they prepare for the Challenge Cup final.
The Robins are in red hot from right now, charging to within two points of the Super League summit and securing a spot in Saturday’s Wembley cup showdown with Wigan Warriors.
In that run they have blown away St Helens, a young Wigan side, Warrington Wolves and local rivals Hull FC, while the likes of Castleford Tigers and Leigh Leopards have been put to the sword too.
That’s a string of form that sees the holders installed as the bookmakers’ favourites to get their hands on the famous old trophy once more this weekend.
Litten believes KR are still someway short of their absolute peak, though, with the hooker underlining the need to step things up again against the Warriors.
“We’re always looking to improve, and I think we’ve still got some improvement in us,” Litten said. “It’s just nice to see we’ve got a lot of good players in form, I think Tyrone May’s playing in his form of his life at the minute and I think our defence is getting back to how it was last year.
“I’m happy to be a part of that and hopefully we can bring that on Saturday.
“I think [Willie Peters] understands where the group’s at and what we need. It’s a final against a champion team like Wigan so we’re all going to have to have nine and 10 out of 10 performances to get the win.
“I think we understand that, and I think we’ve been building nicely over these past six weeks.”
Litten knows that if he continue to shine for his club, England selection will follow with the 28-year-old showcasing himself to be one of the best hookers on the planet during the Ashes last year and in February’s World Club Challenge.
He hasn’t spoken to Brian McDermott just yet, but securing the opportunity to head down under and represent England in the World Cup would truly be a dream come true.
“I think playing for England’s a pinnacle for me representing the country, and it always has been. There’s a lot of great hookers, but hopefully if we’re doing well, then I can play my part [in the World Cup].
“[The Ashes] were a great experience to be a part of. Obviously it was a shame we didn’t get the results, but just to be in that environment with the players, and to play in a game like that against Australia was so special.
“I’ll be aiming to get towards the World Cup, but I think I’ve just got to take care of my form at KR and just take it week by week, not think about it too much, and hopefully I can put myself in the picture at the end of the year.”