 Paul Wellens (left) and Brad Drew pose with the Challenge Cup trophy |
Full-back Paul Wellens says the pain of last year's semi-final defeat is spurring on St Helens as they look to get their hands on the Challenge Cup trophy this weekend.
Saints were massive favourites to reach the 2005 final after being drawn against Hull FC in the last four.
But they slipped to a shock 34-8 defeat at the hands of John Kear's side, who went on win the competition with another surprise win, this time over Leeds Rhinos.
"I think it would be foolish not to use that defeat against Hull as motivation," Wellens, 26, told BBC Sport.
"Maybe we were complacent. People were putting our name on the trophy and we were believing we were already there. You can't afford to do that.
"We felt we had the potential and talent to win the Challenge Cup and Grand Final last year, so by our own standards we let ourselves down, particularly against Hull."
Wellens not only thinks the semi-final loss will inspire his team against Huddersfield on Saturday, he also believes Saints are a better side than last season.
He puts that improvement down to coach Daniel Anderson, who is in his first full campaign in charge after taking over from Ian Millward midway through 2005.
 | I have been a Cup winner before but having so many injuries just makes you more thirsty for success |
"He has completely turned us around defensively, which is a big reason why we are where we are," said Wellens, a product of the Saints Academy.
"For years we've not had a problem scoring points, but we may have leaked a few at the back. He's tightened us up."
Points scoring has certainly never been a problem for Wellens, who racked up his 100th try for his hometown club in Saints 50-0 semi-final drubbing of Hull Kingston Rovers.
The Great Britain international would have had more had he not spent time on the sidelines because of a number of injuries.
One of the bravest players in the game, Wellens has taken several nasty whacks to his face in his career, breaking his cheekbone, jaw and eye socket, sometimes more than once.
Those problems, combined with the memory of last year's semi-final disappointment, mean Wellens is fired up by the chance to win a third Cup winner's medal after victories in 2001 and 2004.
"I have been a Cup winner before but having so many injuries just makes you more thirsty for success," he said.
"It would mean everything to lift that trophy. It is something we have worked very hard for as a squad.
"I just hope we come here and perform to the best of our abilities, because that's what we'll need to do."
 Drew was the man-of-the-match in the semi-final win over Leeds |
Standing between St Helens and 10th Challenge Cup triumph are Huddersfield, whose last of six wins in the competition came back in 1953, ironically at the expense of Saturday's opponents.
Like Hull FC in 2005, the Giants upset the form book to reach the final, scoring a 30-12 win over Leeds.
Now they hope they can pull off an even bigger upset at Twickenham.
Whatever happens, there will be plenty of Huddersfield fans in west London to see the game live, while thousands more back home will be glued to their television screens.
"In the build-up to the semi-final, people were talking about how great it was just to be in the last four," hooker Brad Drew told BBC Sport.
"So after winning that game, the town has gone right off - the atmosphere is amazing."
The former Parramatta Eels and Canberra Raiders player knew the Giants had potential when he signed a two-year contract at the end of 2004.
However, the 30-year-old Australian did not expect to have his faith rewarded so soon.
"The club has been building towards success over the last few years, but possibly it's come earlier than people expected," said Drew, who recently signed a new deal tying him to the club until the end of 2008.
| The one thing we have got to do is make sure we turn up and do everything we can, or it will be a letdown |
"If you had asked people if we would be in the final at the start of the year, they might have laughed.
"But if you had asked them if we would be in the final in five years' time, the answer would definitely have been 'yes'.
"Coach John Sharp has a long-term plan for the club and he has spoken to the team about it.
"Hopefully, this is a stepping stone to more success and a higher profile for the club."
Huddersfield will certainly gain plenty of exposure on Saturday, but will their relatively inexperienced side cope with the big day?
"The Challenge Cup final is bigger than any other game you can play in," said Drew, who was a member of the Parramatta team that lost the 2001 NRL Grand Final to Newcastle Knights.
"You want to savour it and ride the wave as much as you can. So the one thing we have got to do is make sure we turn up and do everything we can, or it will be a letdown."
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Interview: Huddersfield Giants coach John Sharp
