Challenge Cup 'means a lot' says Saints coach Rowley
Paul Rowley helped Salford reach the Challenge Cup Final in 2020 when they were defeated by Leeds
- Published
St Helens head coach Paul Rowley says the Challenge Cup "means a lot to me and the team" as his side prepare for a quarter-final tie against Catalans Dragons.
Saints made it to the last eight with an emphatic 32-8 away victory over Castleford Tigers in the fourth round in March.
"Growing up, the Challenge Cup was the biggest cup to win," Rowley told BBC Radio Merseyside.
"It's historical, our heroes played in it and the list of players to go before us is phenomenal and inspiring so it means a lot to me and the team.
"It's the quarter-final of the cup, so it's do or die."
Saints produced a remarkable comeback against rivals Wigan Warriors on Good Friday by overturning a 14-point deficit to win 34-24, with debutant Bill Leyland's two tries sealing the win.
St Helens scored four tries in just over five minutes in their comeback against Wigan Warriors on Good Friday
Saints are currently fifth in the Super League table, with Catalans one place below them.
Rowley said: "I think we've had a really strong start to the season.
"We've definitely changed how we look in terms of how we play and we've found some ways of winning by continuing to play through tough moments."
The Dragons breezed past Oldham 58-0 to reach the last eight and are also coming off a league victory after beating fellow French outfit Toulouse 33-26 on Saturday.
The two sides' previous meeting in February resulted in a dominant 36-4 triumph for St Helens in Perpignan.
Rowley said: "The best version of Catalans is a very dangerous one, so we need to be proactive and make sure our standards are on form.
"If we do that and worry about what we're going to bring to the party then we feel we'll be okay.
"They've got some fantastic players, the outside backs in particular, (Charlie) Staines, (Toby) Sexton, and a fantastic spine with Kruise Leeming as well."
St Helens, who will be without Agnatius Paasi and Shane Wright due to injuries, last lifted the cup in 2021, with Catalans winning their first Challenge Cup in 2018 when they shocked Warrington at Wembley.
Rowley added: "It's a cup final feel. For the clubs, for ourselves and the supporters, we're connected from top to bottom and I think we all need to cover that burden and responsibility to bring some life to the stadium.
"You don't get many opportunities to win silverware."
