BEN Currie’s looking to make some new memories in the Challenge Cup, starting this Sunday against his former club Wigan.

The competition has brought some moments to forget for the Wire and England back-rower.

It was at this stage just over 12 months ago, in a home tie against Bradford Bulls, that Currie tore his anterior cruciate ligament for the second time.

That was his first and only appearance in the Challenge Cup since being left heartbroken in the final at Wembley in 2016, when moments before the final hooter he was tackled inches from the try line when he looked odds-on to score the winner against Hull.

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His sights are set on bigger and better things now that he has returned from major knee surgery for a second time in 19 months.

“I’d be more than happy to get back to Wembley because I have bad memories of the last time I was there,” said the 24-year-old from Golborne, who came through the scholarship system at Wigan before progressing with the academy set-up at The Wire.

He did not go as far as saying he is haunted by the way Hull hooker Danny Houghton came from nowhere to pull off the match-saving tackle on him at Wembley three years ago but he reflected: “It’s always in the back of the mind, maybe.

“I have seen a few replays but that’s behind me now.

“Fingers crossed we can get back there, get a win, and get that all forgotten about.

“The club obviously had a good period of winning the Challenge Cup, three times in four years between 2009 and 2012.

“We’ve been back on that stage but just not been able to get over the finish line.”

Currie missed out on the Grand Finals of 2016 and 2018 because of his ACL injuries but his ambitions include being on the field at Old Trafford when The Wire’s night of glory finally arrives.

“I want to be involved in the first Warrington team to win the Grand Final,” said Currie, who you feel is looking to make up for lost time.

Another momentous occasion in which Currie found himself on the sidelines was the 23-0 home win against Wigan in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals last season, the first time Warrington had beaten the Cherry and Whites on home soil in the competition for more than 80 years.

“I missed a lot of games last year unfortunately,” he said.

“Thankfully now I’m ticking games off week-in week-out and hopefully now the injury is all behind me and I can get stuck in and be there at the business end for once.”

But nothing matters more at the moment than being focused on earning a place in the last eight by beating the old enemy at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday.

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“It’s always an interesting game against Wigan, being our local rivals,” he said.

“I know a lot of Wigan fans back home where I live, so it’s always a big one for me.

“Obviously Wigan’s form in the league isn’t too well.

“They’re not as high up the table as they would want to be, so this is a fresh competition for them to get things started.

“They’ve been ticking a few wins off, whether they’ve been playing great or not, and a win is all you need in the cup - you’ll take it any way you can get it.

“It’s going to be a tough game. We’ll expect a physical side and one that’s up for a win.”

Currie has scored in successive Wire matches, including the team’s last one in the win at Castleford, with his tally of appearances now reaching nine since his comeback from injury.

“I feel fine now, back to how I was,” he said.

“I want to get my hands on the ball a little bit more, but I’m happy to be playing again and I’m improving every week.”