THE Challenge Cup fascinates any player or coach who arrives on these shores from the southern hemisphere.

For the NRL stands alone in the game Down Under as the sole premier competition, with knockout football reserved only for the season-ending finals.

When he first arrived at Warrington Wolves in 2019, Jason Clark freely admits he found the concept of “do-or-die” cup games interspersed among the bread and butter of league matches “a bit strange.”

Having marked his first year in England with a Wembley victory, though, he now fully understands and appreciates the significance of the game’s oldest knockout competition.

“It’s different – it’s hard going into a game thinking its over if you lose,” he said.

“I remember in my first year here, coming to terms with it was a bit strange.

“Now knowing it’s a different comp, I’ve grown to enjoy it a lot more.

“Players’ mentalities do change a lot between playing in Super League and the Challenge Cup.

“You put everything into every week but when it’s knockout footy, it comes to light a lot more.

“It’s enjoyable – for me being a kid from Botany in Sydney walking out and winning at Wembley Stadium is pretty crazy.

“It’s something not many people get to experience.”

Indeed, forward Clark has experienced both joy and despair in this competition since joining The Wire from South Sydney Rabbitohs.

From the undoubted high of stunning a heavily fancied St Helens side on the biggest stage came the crushing low of being dumped out by underdogs Salford Red Devils in last year’s semi-final.

The road back to Wembley takes them to Leeds tomorrow, Friday, and the sizeable hurdle of Catalans Dragons block their path.

Steve McNamara’s side will be desperate to avenge a 24-8 Super League loss in Perpignan less than a fortnight ago – the only time they have lost thus far in 2021.

A key to doing that will be their impressive heavy artillery in the pack, and Clark says neutralising that will be a massive factor at Headingley.

“Around the middle, they are a big pack so we have to control that and slow their speed down,” he said.

“Big Sam Kasiano has a big role for them in getting them on the front foot so we need to look into that and execute really well around him.

“It’s so hard when you’ve got a big man who moves as well as he does, though.

“It’s not as much about worrying about the other team – for us, we have to get our little things right with completion and executing our plays.”

Having been in the starting team for much of 2020, Clark has come off the bench in five of The Wire’s six games this time around.

Lately, the loose forward position he often frequents has been taken up by Matt Davis – a player of a similar ilk to himself.

Regardless of the competition for places, though, the 31-year-old is enjoying bringing the younger man on.

“Whether I’m on the bench or in the starting team, it doesn’t make a difference to me. As long as I’m doing my job and doing right by the team, I’m happy,” he said.

“Matty’s a great young energetic kid who I feed off as we do have similar roles.

“I’m a bit older than him so I’d like to think I could pass some things on and give him the benefit of my experience.

“Being an older bloke in the team, I think that’s coming on really well. It’s still early so it’s exciting for the year to go.”