From famine to feast in remarkable fashion, Rovers are back at Wembley for the third time in four years
Hull KR’s Sauaso Sue celebrates to the fans after his side win the Challenge Cup trophy.
It can be easy when you develop a welcome habit of winning every trophy available, to not contemplate when the incredible ride will stop, or taking the time to pause and look out the window at what’s happening around you.
A disadvantage of youth perhaps and the advantage of experience is knowing just how precious these times are and how hard major finals are to come by. For some younger players in the Rovers squad, major finals are bread and butter stretching back to 2023, with KR in their third Challenge Cup final in four years, having played two Grand Finals and a World Club Challenge.
From famine to feast in remarkable fashion, Rovers under the leadership of Willie Peters have become the current dominant force in the game. It’s a great story to tell when careers have ended, a story of those glory days.
For Sauaso ‘Jesse’ Sue, the past couple of years have been a glorious bookmark to a career of earning the hard yards for his teams, of so often going without the rewards that now befall him and his team-mates. In many ways it makes it all the sweeter. At the age of 34 and with these opportunities running out, it also makes ensuring the little moments are savoured, all the more important.
“You have to make the most of every opportunity because these finals don’t come easy, that’s for sure,” explains Sue. “We may have played in a few of these recently, but they never come easy, it takes a lot to get here.
“You soak it up and take in every moment, cherish the moments as they come and make sure you have no regrets when you leave that field. I’ll try take it all in.”
While a decision has been made privately on what’s next for the out of contract forward, that will come after Wembley, for now the focus is on adding to the trophy haul.
Rovers go into the game as favourites against Wigan Warriors, as they bid to hold onto the trophy they won last year against Warrington Wolves. Having that experience under their belts is important says Sue, if only for the fact he knows to expect to not be able to hear any of his team-mates at times in the game.
“Knowing the stadium is an advantage, knowing what to expect with the crowd and how loud it is going to be,” adds Sue.
“It’s crazy out there. Last year we couldn’t even hear each other speaking, it was that loud. That is when the preparation comes in and knowing everyone’s role and game plan, then it becomes second nature and you know where you need to be even when you’re struggling to communicate that.
“We need that noise though. There will be a time when we are blowing out of our arses and we need that energy from the crowd to get us through it. We fed off that last year and we will again.”
A Rovers win would be a unique double following Hull City ’s play-off finals success last weekend, as Hull takes centre stage once again at the national stadium.
Sue has enjoyed seeing the celebrations in recent days, with a reminder of what KR went through last year, but he’s determined to make sure it’s not a distraction.
“It was a really good result from Hull City last week and the town is buzzing after that, we’re buzzing for them too,” said Sue.
“What’s important is we don’t get sucked into that outside noise and we keep our focus on the job at hand. Willie has done a really good job of keeping us grounded, but you have to enjoy the little moments too and enjoy the build-up.”