Offiah believes Challenge Cup Final will live up to the hype
Saturday will be a landmark day in the history of Rugby League as the competition celebrates its 120th anniversary.
To mark the occasion a statue will be unveiled at Wembley, part of which depicts one of the greatest tries in Challenge Cup history when Martin Offiah, then of Wigan, ran the length of the field to score against Leeds.
However Offiah, who admits he is ‘humbled and honoured’ by the tribute, says he hopes that Saturday’s Challenge Cup Finalists Leeds Rhinos and Hull KR do the magnificent occasion justice.
Speaking to WembleyStadium.com, he said: “It is going to be an intriguing match and hopefully it will be a classic which lives up to the immense prestige of this weekend with it being the 120th anniversary of the birth of the sport.
“With the statue going up we need a final that lives up to the hype.”
Holders Leeds are slight favourites to win the Wembley showpiece but Offiah warned anyone discounting their noisy neighbours from East Riding should do so at their peril!
He added: “It is a roar, a bang, a crash and an explosion that Hull KR have made. They are going to come here feeling confident. I really do believe Hull KR will come on a mission.
“Whether they are going to win or not we will have to wait and see but I’m looking forward to it.”
Last season Leeds Rhinos ended a run of six consecutive Challenge Cup Final defeats when they overcame Castleford Tigers 23-10.
But Offiah says that victory does not mean there will be less pressure on The Rhinos ahead of this weekend.
“There is going to be pressure on Leeds shoulders because everyone is going to expect them to win,” he said.
“I know when I came here with my first Wigan team in 1992 Wigan had already won the Challenge Cup four times but there was even more pressure.
“They are also going to have players like Kevin Sinfield and Jamie Peacock leaving at the end of this year and they will want to go out on a high.”
Between 1988 and 1995 Wigan Warriors won an amazing eight consecutive Challenge Cups.
Offiah played a part in four of those successes and believes such an incredible run is something Leeds would love to emulate.
He added: “They will want to create their own legacy. We all know what Wigan did in the late 80s and early 90s.
“They are going to want to go on and create their own dynasty. It is going to be an intriguing final and hopefully an exciting one.”