Leeds Rhinos v Salford Red Devils, Richie Myler Challenge Cup Final preview

Myler, left out of Wire's 2010 cup-winning team against Leeds but at scrum-half when The Wire repeated the feat at Wembley two years later, knows that full-back protege Jack Walker will bounce back from his personal cup final disappointment.

Myler has beaten him to the number one role for Saturday's showdown with Salford Red Devils in what will be the first Challenge Cup Final played behind closed doors.

Richie Myler, former Wire scrum-half now at Leeds and preparing for Saturday's Challenge Cup Final. Picture: SWpix

Rhinos coach Richard Agar, the former Wire assistant coach, will announce his 21-man squad today but told his players his line-up yesterday and Myler could resonate with the disappointment of those left out, having experienced similar heartache in 2010.

Myler, 30, says he was up for a bench spot in Warrington’s team for the match against Leeds 10 years ago only to lose out in coach Tony Smith’s final selection.

He was then a similar age to the 21-year-old Walker, who got the Rhinos’ number one shirt at the start of the season and has played in the last three Super League matches after recovering from a foot injury.

However, Agar has kept faith with Myler, a specialist half-back who deputised superbly at full-back during Walker’s two-and-a-half-month absence.

“There were a couple of boys who didn’t get the greatest news,” said Myler.

“It’s awful, it’s the end of the world, it happened to me three days before the 2010 Challenge Cup final.

Richie Myler, second from left, missed out on Wire selection in the 2010 final but was there with the squad. Also sidelined, from left, are Chris Bridge, Rhys Williams, Matty Blythe and Mike Cooper. Picture: Mike Boden

“Once the dust settles, you learn from it and you learn why it’s happened, there’s often a bigger picture.

“It’s not a nice learning curve but that’s rugby league and those boys will bounce back.

“We’ve still got some other big games coming up. We want to be fighting for the top four.”

Also among the Wire teammates on the sidelines with Myler in 2010 were Rhys Williams and Tyrone McCarthy, who are both expected to be in the Salford line-up on Saturday.

Myler says he was consoled in 2010 by Vinnie Anderson, one of the bench players for the game which Warrington won 30-6, and will be happy to give Walker the benefit of his advice if he wants it.

Jack Walker being tackled by Wire co-skipper Jack Hughes when the two sides met in Super League on Tuesday. Picture: SWpix.com

“I’m probably the last person he wants to speak to at the moment but he’s very much a team player,” Myler added.

“Jack has got a very old head on young shoulders. He’s an unbelievable talent and I’m sure he has a very long future at Leeds and a very long future in the game. I’ll be an ear for him if he wants to vent some things.

“It’s unfortunate that he’s had an injury and he misses out but he’ll bounce back and he’ll be around for a very long time.”

The selection of Myler is reward for his perseverance and loyalty, which was tested at the end of last year.

Richie Myler in training for the cup final this week. Picture: SWpix.com

The England international faced an uncertain future when Agar gave him the squad number 16 after handing his old seven shirt to new signing Luke Gale but he remained determined to fight for a place in the team.

“I’ve never walked away from a challenge,” he said.

“Last year was an indifferent year for us and an indifferent year for me. I just didn’t perform to my best.

“But Rich was quite honest. We were sat in the coffee shop at the beginning of pre-season and he said in the nicest possible way ‘so where else do you want to play?’

“That was pretty much where it was at. ‘Rob (Lui) and Galey are here so that’s six and seven so let’s find another role for you’.

“In adversity you either thrive off it and try to prove a point or you sulk and kick stones and I’ve always prided myself as somebody who would never kick stones.”