 Hobbs won the Cup with Featherstone, who he now coaches |
Featherstone coach David Hobbs is a man who knows all about breaking Hull hearts in the Challenge Cup.
In 1983, he scored two tries and picked up the Lance Todd Trophy as Rovers pulled off one of the biggest shocks in Cup history, beating Hull 14-12 in the final.
And on Sunday he will be hoping to cause more upset in Hull as Featherstone take on Skirlaugh, the BBC Sport website's Road to Wembley team, in round three of the 2006 Challenge Cup.
Hobbs is a man whose life has been touched by the romance and magic of the Cup, but despite his place in local history, he is not one to crow about his achievements.
"The way the team played, we had a certain style," he told BBC Sport. "Things opened up and I just took the chances.
"Featherstone's only a small community, so by winning the Cup we provided people with great memories which you'll never erase.
"But I've also got plenty of friends who keep my feet on the ground by reminding me about the bad old days, too!"
 |  Featherstone's only a small community, so by winning the Cup we provided people with great memories which you'll never erase |
In the mid-1980s, it was still possible for the likes of Featherstone and Castleford to win the Challenge Cup.
But since then, apart from the blip of Sheffield's 1998 win, the final has been largely dominated by the usual suspects every year, a pattern which saddens Hobbs.
"It's become such an elite game that giant-killing is almost over, " he said.
"You still get the odd surprise, and if the big clubs are drawn together, then that opens up a few channels.
"Hull took advantage of one of those channels to win last year, but even they're hardly a small club."
National Conference Premier League side Skirlaugh will be hoping for a bit of giant-killing themselves on Saturday, and Hobbs says his team must be aware of this.
"In many ways, this is their final. They're a good outfit and will think they can win - we've got to make sure they don't," he said.
"We've got to be more enthusiastic and have a strong desire to win. If we allow them too much of a sniff, we'll struggle. They'd love to throw down a banana skin, so it's up to us to avoid it."
One of Hobbs' opposite numbers on Saturday will be Tony Spence, who is helping Skirlaugh coaching duo Richard Gotts and Colin Brown in their first season in charge.
"We're within touching distance of the big time," he said.
"Every time Skirlaugh have played professionals we've put up a good show and I don't see why not this time. We're quietly confident.
"Featherstone have got some good players, so we'll have to defend hard, then get off the line quickly and get in their faces - we can't go into our shells when we get the ball.
"I'm sure we'll give them a good run for their money and raise some eyebrows."
| If we go to the game-plan we've been working on, they'll know they've been in a game |
Whoever triumphs on Saturday, both sides admit it is not the Cup itself that is their prize.
"What we want is to get into round four and get a Super League club to generate funds," said Hobbs.
"Unfortunately that's how the competition has become viewed by a lot of clubs these days.
"From the players' point of view, I'd like the worst club in the competition, at home, but from the club's position, Leeds or Bradford or Castleford away would be great for us."
Spence also says a day in the big time would be its own reward for Skirlaugh.
"A lot of people here have worked really hard, so to reach round four is no more than they deserve," he said.
"I was at Ideal Isberg when we drew Hull KR, which was great, but to draw someone like Hull FC or another Super League team would be out of this world.
"If we go to the game-plan we've been working on this week, we'll give a good account of ourselves, they'll know they've been in a game."
MMIX
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