Two-time Lance Todd Trophy winner Marc Sneyd can feel the cup atmosphere in the air building up to tomorrow’s Betfred Challenge Cup quarter-final clash with Wigan Warriors.
Sneyd played a pivotal role in Hull’s 2016 and 2017 cup triumphs, so he knows exactly what it takes to lift the trophy.
After battling hard against the Warriors in a Super League fixture last Thursday, the Black & Whites are preparing themselves for another classic encounter against Adrian Lam’s side.
But Sneyd admits there has been a slightly different feeling in camp this week.
“I think everybody’s levels raise when it’s a cup week with the added pressure of it being knockout rugby,” Sneyd said in his pre-match press conference.
“It builds a lot of excitement because of the ‘win or you’re out’ factor that comes with the cup.
“It’s not just two points in a league game up for grabs, it’s a massive knockout game to progress into the semi-finals.
“It’s not just me that feels the excitement, I think it runs through the whole squad.
“This week’s build up to the game has been that little bit different compared to what last week’s was.”
Sneyd will once again go toe-to-toe with Wigan halfback Jackson Hastings tomorrow afternoon.
The 2019 Steve Prescott Man of Steel was pivotal in helping the Warriors edge out a narrow win over Hull last Thursday, scoring a try and assisting another try.
Speaking ahead of his halfback battle with Hastings tomorrow, Sneyd says Hull’s ruck control will determine the level of impact the former Sydney Roosters man can have on the game.
“It’s not necessarily stopping what he can do as a player, but he is really smart at waiting for the right time to strike,” he said.
“The more control you have in the early plays in their set, the easier it is to handle what he is going to come up with later in the set.
“He’s really good at taking his opportunity off the back of a quick play-the-ball.
“The more you can win the ruck and slow the play-the-ball down, obviously the less impact he will be able to have on the game.
“You’re never going to win every single ruck throughout a game, so it’s about minimising it as much as we possibly can.”
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