TYRONE McCarthy has been taken to hospital with a gastric illness just 10 days out from the Coral Challenge Cup final.

The 31-year-old former Woolston Rovers and Warrington Wolves loose forward played in the Red Devils' 24-22 semi-final win over his hometown club last Saturday which secured their place in next Saturday's final against Leeds, the club's first trip to Wembley since 1969.

"He's had to go to hospital," head coach Ian Watson told a press conference via zoom.

"We're hoping it's not his appendix and that he's having to have them taken out.

"He's had a really bad gastric illness the last couple of days so he was taken to hospital. We just wish him well and hope he'll be back with us pretty quickly."

McCarthy scored a try in Warrington's 2012 Challenge Cup final victory over Leeds, and was involved off the bench when Wire returned to Wembley in 2009 for the first time in 18 years.

He skippered Hull KR in the 2015 final at the national stadium.