Memories of Headingley inspire Wolves

6:30am Thursday 8th May 2008

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PAUL Cullen reckons Wolves will need to produce a performance on a par with their famous play-off win at Leeds if they are to beat St Helens and reach the Challenge Cup quarter finals.

Wolves go into Saturday's fifth-round tie without a win in their last 22 matches against Saints and having not won at Knowsley Road since 1994.

All the odds are stacked against them but the same was true when they went to Leeds in the play-offs and clinched a memorable 18-17 win in 2006.

Wolves had been thrashed 54-16 in a league game at Leeds just weeks before that play-off fixture and go into Saturday's cup clash having lost 30-22 at home to Saints two weeks ago.

Cullen said: "In that Leeds game, every player on the field had his best game on that day.

"Let's not forget, Leeds were in brilliant form at the back end of that season, just like Saints are now. That's going to be what is required in this one. All of your 17 have to bring their best game over 80 minutes to get the result.

"If memory serves, we were a little bit bust up and we got hammered at Leeds (weeks before the play-off fixture), so things can turn round and they can turn round in a matter of weeks. Or, as we proved at the weekend, they can turn round in a game."

Cullen has hailed his side's remarkable' recovery from 22-6 down at half time to beat Huddersfield 36-34 on Saturday.

And he knows his side will need to be mentally strong this weekend, having previously admitted the situation got to some of his players when needless penalties were conceded against Saints two weeks ago.

He said: "Technically and tactically, our discipline is good. There were a couple of bizarre penalties that were not needed.

"Concentration has got to be at a peak and last over 80 minutes. One hopes it is going to be a tight game and in a tight game you've got to be good.

"We've probably got the job that no-one else wants, to travel to Knowsley Road in a Challenge Cup game, which is a St Helens speciality.

"But belief isn't an issue, I don't believe. Your discipline has got to be very good for 80.

"You can't afford to give them anything."

Cullen is hopeful that Vinnie Anderson will return on Saturday after missing the Huddersfield game with a shoulder injury.

Jon Clarke completes a two-match ban, so Mark Gleeson is expected to start at hooker with Louis Anderson able to rotate in that position.

Wolves are assessing the match fitness of Simon Grix and Mike Cooper, who played in the reserves' 28-26 defeat at St Helens on Tuesday, before deciding whether they come into contention.

The under 18s face Bradford in the Gillette Champions Academy at Wilderspool tonight, Thursday, at 7.30pm.