The big squad news ahead of the final is the devastating exclusion of Blake Austin from the 19-man squad. Austin has missed the last two games with an ankle injury and while there was some hope that he would be rushed back in time for the final, he has not made the 19. There have been a few occasions this season where players who haven't been named in the 19 have made the team on matchday, but it appears that this will not be the case with Austin - with the former Canberra player posting on his Instagram story today that he won't be playing. In better news, Josh Charnley, Jack Hughes and Stefan Ratchford are all available after fears that injury would rule them out. Matty Smith is cup-tied, and there is no place for Luther Burrell or Lama Tasi either. So, into my lineup...
Full Back - 22 Jake Mamo
For once, full back was actually a difficult decision. The fact that I've picked Mamo at full back should give the game away as to who I've picked to play in the halves in Austin's place. I understand some people's concerns that if Ratchford doesn't play at one we lose a lot in attack, but I actually think Mamo offers a fair bit in attack, and has a decent scoring rate too. The main thing for Mamo is trying to be as solid as possible under the high ball, which has been his downfall in recent months.
Winger - 2 Tom Lineham
While I haven't been particularly enamoured with Lineham's performances lately, he bags his fair number of tries. In the big games this season he has done well and is good defensively. Like so many of the squad, Lineham's discipline is an issue and will need to keep himself in check on such a big occasion. He is a fairly sure pick I think, with the other wing slot being between Mamo and Charnley.
Centre - 3 Bryson Goodwin
Fortunately, Goodwin is available after his head wound in the defeat to Wigan last week. He scored the opener in the semi-final and also the first try of our Challenge Cup run against Wigan. The only criticism of Goodwin recently is that he rarely creates space for his winger, and in a game like this against such a good team, chances have to be taken.
Centre - 18 Toby King
Our main route to the tryline recently has been high kicks into the direction of King. The centre has scored a few from these situations, but it isn't the most reliable tactic and I wonder if, without the kicking quality of Austin, we may need to amend this plan. No doubt that King will play though, he is a certainty on the team sheet these days.
Winger - 5 Josh Charnley
After four games out, Josh Charnley returns to the fold for this one. I would hope that he comes straight back in as he is easily our best winger, both defensively and offensively. I assume that he is close enough to 100% fit to start, in which case he has to play, without doubt. I just hope that he actually sees the ball because he was really starved of it in the games leading up to his injury.
Stand Off - 1 Stefan Ratchford
So, the big call - who starts in the halves? No Austin and no Smith, so who should go alongside Patton? There have been some whispers about Ben Currie getting the nod at six, and he did have a short stint there away at London in July, but for me it should be Ratchford, without a doubt. He has far more experience playing there, both with Salford and Warrington, and while he hasn't played there under Steve Price, it would still be the better call in my opinion.
Scrum Half - 15 Declan Patton
In the absence of Austin and Smith, Patton is a dead cert to start at seven as he is the only halfback named in the squad. He looked to take the line on a bit against Wigan last week, after shying away from doing so most of the year. I hope that he can produce the kind of performance that has eluded him all year, I really do. There'd be no better time.
Prop - 8 Chris Hill
Chris Hill is looking for his first trophy as captain of Warrington. He was involved in the squad that won the 2012 Challenge Cup and is one of only five current players - Ratchford, Westwood, Currie, Cooper and himself - who have won a major trophy with the Wire (not including the League Leaders' Shield). I say this every week, but the forwards battle is going to be key and we need plenty of metres from Hill, and of course, good discipline.
Hooker - 9 Daryl Clark
Wire's best player this year has undoubtedly been Daryl Clark. He has put in performances of sensational consistency all year long and will be absolutely key to any chance of victory on Saturday. He has been the driving force behind the small scraps of creativity that have existed in the team recently and no doubt this will continue at the weekend.
Prop - 10 Mike Cooper
As mentioned earlier, the battle of the forward packs is going to be critical to the outcome of the game. So often we struggle to compete with good sets of forwards on the opposing team, and it is on the likes of Hill and Cooper to try and prevent this. They should both look to replicate their excellent performances in the June defeat to St Helens, where for most of the game they had the measure of the Saints back, until they took over at the back end of the game.
Second Row - 11 Ben Currie
After the heartbreak of the 2016 final and then missing out on last year's visit to Wembley through injury, this is Currie's chance to put his demons to rest and finally grace the hallowed turf. There is plenty of discussion about the possibility of Currie playing in the halves, but for me this would weaken the second row, where Currie it at his most effective and is such a consistent tackler. The personal motivation for him should help him produce a big performance.
Second Row - 12 Jack Hughes
Along with Currie and Ratchford, Hughes' name has been mentioned in the halfback discussion. I'm not sure how he'd fare there as I can't say I've any knowledge of him playing there in the past, and it seems a bit unlikely to me. After his horror injury at Catalans away, he will be back in the team this week and I expect him to be in the second row.
Loose Forward - 14 Jason Clark
After some good performances at 13, Jason Clark hasn't started at loose forward for the last two games. I think he will come back in here though - Akauola's minutes are so limited and Philbin, Westwood and Davis are all better suited to roles from the bench. Hopefully he can get his hands on the ball and we can see some of the passing game that he supposedly possesses.
Interchange - 17 Joe Philbin
Philbin was Wire's best player in the Wigan defeat last week, and most of his best games come from the bench, so I expect him to start on the bench on Saturday. If Hill and Cooper can lay a good platform, Philbin will be able to come on and hopefully have a big impact.
Interchange - 13 Ben Murdoch-Masila
I toyed between Akauola and Murdoch-Masila for this spot on the bench, eventually plumping for the former Salford man. Akauola's minutes are so limited and on his day, Murdoch-Masila can produce a lot better than Akauola. He was clearly very emotional at the end of the semi-final, this is his chance to prove how much it means to him - I want to see more than 17 metres made, preferably.
Interchange - 34 Ben Westwood
Despite hardly playing all year, Westwood has shown more heart and dedication in the last two games than most of the rest of the team. He would be very worthy of a place in the squad for this one after everything he has done for the club, his final Wembley appearance.
Interchange - 23 Matt Davis
For me, Matt Davis has quietly been one of our best players this year. His impact from the bench is always noticeable and he is a tackling machine. I definitely hope he makes the 17 because I think he's one of our stronger bench options.
I expect St Helens to line up like this:
Lachlan Coote; Tommy Makinson, Kevin Naiqama, Mark Percival, Regan Grace; Jonny Lomax, Theo Fages; Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Luke Thompson; Zeb Taia, Dominique Peyroux; Morgan Knowles
Interchanges: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Kyle Amor, James Bentley, Joseph Paulo
Key things to note from Saints' probable team are the fact that they have no injury problems and will be able to field their strongest 17. Thinking about how we should approach the game tactically, the key man for me is Jonny Lomax. In my opinion, Lomax will be very unlucky to miss out on the Man of Steel award, because his performances have been electric this season for Saints and he has been instrumental to their success. Next to Lomax is Theo Fages, a far more defensive halfback who doesn't offer the same threat that Lomax does. If Wire can limit Lomax's impact, then that will be a start. It is also essential that Lachlan Coote doesn't get too much say in the game, because in the early part of the season in particular, he was running games on his own for Saints. There is obviously the threat out wide from Makinson (the best finisher in the league) and Grace, supported by excellent centres in Naiqama and Percival. The forwards of Walmsley, Roby and Thompson will be difficult to stop which is why it is so essential that our own forward pack can make as many metres as possible and compete with the pack of Saints. The second row of Taia and Peyroux is dangerous while Morgan Knowles has been one of the most underrated players of the season.
When I've watched Saints recently, they have, at times, struggled with plays out wide. Think of the two tries we scored against them in the game a few weeks ago - both excellent balls from Ratchford out wide to the wingers. It was the same story when they played at Headingley last week. With this in mind, I want to see plenty of passing play and not just predictable five drives and a kick. Let's throw the ball around and play some expansive stuff and try and rediscover some of the early season form. That will be far harder for Saints to cope with than just drives upfield. We also need to have a strong mentality - how many times have we seen Wire take the lead in finals and then go on to lose them? We need to be at it from minute one and take every chance we get.
Comparing the form of the respective sides, it seems like an impossible task. Then take away Wire's top scorer and best creative outlet and it suddenly gets even harder. Then remember that Warrington have lost their last six finals and it's starting to sound a bit ridiculous. Steve Price has said that Warrington are the biggest underdogs in Challenge Cup Final history, which is a bit of an exaggeration, but there is no doubt that we are not the fancied team for this one. I can't say I'm going into it with loads of expectation but what I am hoping to see is a determined, disciplined display which gives everything to try and bring the trophy home. If we give everything and get beaten by a better side, then there won't be too much to complain about. This team have the chance to write their names into the history books and make themselves heroes forever. When I walk out of Wembley Stadium on Saturday at about 5pm, I just want to feel proud of the team, win or lose.
1905. 1907. 1950. 1954. 1974. 2009. 2010. 2012
2019?
Well, it's always our year.
Daniel (@aloosewire)
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