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Page last updated at 06:25 GMT, Friday, 10 April 2009 07:25 UK

Andrew Henderson column

Andrew Henderson in action for Scotland

By Andrew Henderson
Gateshead Thunder and Scotland

Gateshead have had a pretty ordinary start to the season, so reaching the fifth round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup is a massive achievement.

We showed grit and character to knock out Doncaster at the weekend. Now Oldham, who are top of the table in the league below us, stand between us and a place in the quarter-finals for the first time ever.

They are flying in Championship 1, so we know we'll have our work cut out. Going through would just be huge for the club in terms of revenue, and I'm really excited about it.

Part of me would have preferred to get a big draw against a team like my old club Castleford or a TV game against St Helens.

It's a dilemma for clubs like ours as we still have the nuisance of promotion and relegation, so the Cup can get in the way. Our main goal is to stay in the Championship and build towards securing a Super League licence in the future.

My tally of four tries is pretty close to the number of nappies I have changed this season

But, from a personal point of view, I love the Challenge Cup and have never been this far with any club, so I'm buzzing.

I managed to score a try in our 32-18 win over Doncaster. It was my fourth of the season and was vintage Andrew Henderson from inside the 10m line.

My tally of four tries is pretty close to the number of nappies I have changed this season, I must admit. I'm sure my wife, Rachael, would like me to change more, but it's not really my speciality! I'm probably better at feeding than nappies.

I'm still busy doing loads of promos and being the face of the Gateshead Thunder. I did a local Question of Sport show with the Newcastle Falcons which was a good laugh.

I was sat alongside Falcons captain Jamie Noon and was pretty disappointed when he overruled me in a rugby league question. There was a picture on the screen of Sam Burgess. I told him it was Sam Burgess and he gave Robbie Paul as the answer. There is about four foot different in height!

Mini Me and Dr Evil
I went from Dr Evil to Mini Me (left) in the course of one night

We also had a fancy dress event after our game with Batley. It was a "D" party so we all had to turn up dressed as something to do with that letter. I was pretty pleased with my Dr Evil attire. Rachael came as Dame Edna.

Neil Thorman was the best dressed as the Duff Man from The Simpsons. Luke Branighan was the worst dressed with a pathetic effort as Dirk Diggler. One of the other players turned up later as Dr Evil, too, so I became known as Mini Me. Not a great moment.

I'm really pleased with the start my old boys Castleford have made, although I'm slightly concerned at whether it's coincidence that they're flying now I've left!

The fans really deserve success while the players seem to be enjoying their footy a lot more. The difference this year seems to be that Cas are winning the close games that they used to lose.

It's been a horrible time once again for Wakefield following the tragic death of Leon Walker. My brother, Kevin, plays for Wakey and he was stunned. I don't know if there is a curse at that club, but it's so sad after the death of gentle giant Adam Watene six months ago.

I know we don't know what happened yet to Leon but I do wonder if clubs will start giving regular heart checks to their players.

We have back-to-back home games now against Featherstone and Sheffield, so hopefully by the time next month's column comes around we'll have won a league game

I think we should be checking on players' health much more than we are doing. We have to push our bodies to the limit, so it's worrying to think that some of us may have something wrong with our bodies that we don't know about.

I got a call from Watene's partner, Moana, this week. She's organising a tribute book for Adam and has asked me to write a page for him. I'm honoured as he was a good friend. I hope it will be a fitting tribute to a fine gentleman and a fine rugby league player.

We have back-to-back home games now against Featherstone and Sheffield, so hopefully by the time next month's column comes around we'll have won a league game! We've lost two and drawn one so far, so the only way is up.

Andrew Henderson was talking to BBC Sport's George Riley



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see also
Thunder boss satisfied with draw
08 Apr 09 |  Rugby League
St Helens face Catalans cup test
07 Apr 09 |  Rugby League
Ready to rumble with Thunder
03 Mar 09 |  Rugby League


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