Brett Hodgson has explained he must see improvements from his side if the Black & Whites are to taste victory in this weekend’s Betfred Challenge Cup semi-final against St Helens.
FC will be looking for victory to send them back to Wembley Stadium for the first time since 2017, but having gone down to Kristian Woolf’s side last weekend, Hodgson knows the size of the task ahead.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, in assocation with Jacuzzi, Hodgson began by revealing he will be without one of his key men for this weekend’s game.
“We’ve lost Joe Cator for this weekend’s game,” he said.
“He came off with a calf complaint last weekend, so he isn’t going to be fit for this game unfortunately.
“He’s been going really well for us and I’ve been really happy with his progression this season; he’s played some big minutes for us too, so we’ll miss him but it gives someone the chance to step in.”
Hodgson explained that he must see improvements from his side this weekend having gone down to the Saints last Friday, if they are to make it to the Challenge Cup Final.
“There are a number of reasons why we weren’t at our best last weekend. We’ve looked at those, including our intent at the start of the game which wasn’t where it needed to be.
“St Helens were excellent and started quickly, and we couldn’t control that so we effectively lost the game in the first 15 minutes. We’ll expect the same from them on Saturday so we need to be better.
“We want to be there at Wembley in six weeks time, and in order to do that we need to improve. We’ll need an eighty minute performance.
“But we haven’t really spoke about St Helens. The only time they’ve come into our thought process is when reviewing the weekend.”
And the former Lance Todd Trophy winner with Warrington in 2012 explained just what reaching the cup final would mean to the club.
“The history of the Challenge Cup is special to us. With some recent success, we want to be there again. We’ll use that to inspire us this week.
“It means everything to the supporters of our club. It’s a huge occasion if we can make it there. It’s what we do this job for.
“The experience of going there for me personally was incredible, even when I lost the match with Huddersfield in 2009. It’s such an iconic stadium and going there is something I hold dear in my career.”
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