TWO Warrington Wolves icons will be on opposing sides during tomorrow’s Challenge Cup Final.
But will it be Lee Briers’ Wigan Warriors or Chris Hill’s Huddersfield Giants who lift the famous trophy at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?
Chris Hill celebrates Huddersfield's semi-final victory over Hull KR. Picture by SWPix.com
Between them, they won six Challenge Cup titles - four for Briers as player and coach and two for Hill - during their time with The Wire.
Briers played starring roles in back-to-back Wembley triumphs in 2009 and 2010, winning the Lance Todd Trophy in the latter.
He and Hill were both in the Warrington side that beat Leeds in 2012 and had different roles in the 2019 triumph over St Helens – Hill lifted the trophy as co-captain while Briers was an assistant coach under Steve Price.
Both players brought their long associations with The Wire to an end following last season, with Briers now at Wigan as an assistant to head coach Matty Peet while Hill has continued his playing career with the Giants.
Lee Briers with Wigan Warriors head coach Matty Peet. Picture by SWPix.com
It is not just Briers and Hill with Wire connections among today’s finalists either.
Wigan’s head of analyst’s Jack Phillips held the same role at The Halliwell Jones Stadium during Price’s tenure as head coach while Huddersfield’s head physio Rachael O’Toole was once a soft tissue therapist for Warrington.
There will also be plenty of Warrington connections in the first game of the day – the 1895 Cup Final between Featherstone Rovers and Leigh Centurions.
On-loan Wire outside back Keanan Brand could line up on the edges for Leigh while Warringtonians Joe Mellor and Ed Chamberlain could also be involved.
Keanan Brand has scored 10 tries in 13 games on loan at Leigh Centurions this year. Picture by SWPix.com
Mellor is a former Latchford Albion junior and Warrington academy player before starting his professional career at Widnes Vikings while Chamberlain played his junior rugby for both Rylands Sharks and Crosfields and is a former student of St Gregory’s High School.
Across the field, they could face up to former Warrington players Morgan Smith and Ben Hellewell in the Featherstone side.
Having come through the Wire academy, Smith made 26 first-team appearances before leaving in 2018 while Hellewell started his professional career with Warrington but never made a senior appearance.
Former Wire player Morgan Smith could be in the Featherstone Rovers side that faces Leigh Centurions in the 1895 Cup Final. Picture by Mike Boden
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