Challenge Cup Final Q&A with Saints skipper Jodie Cunningham

MC: How has Wembley week been building?

JC: We spoke as a group before the semi final saying how big of next four weeks was in terms of our season.

We had the semi-final against York, the league games against Leeds, Wigan and then obviously the final if we won that semi and we spoke about how big a four-week period it was for us and that actually could make or break our season and we had to make sure we made most of it.

I think we just saw a shift in the girls in terms of the attitude, on and off the field, defensive efforts have been outstanding.

And for us, we've built confidence around our defence over the last few weeks. Going into this week we feel really confident to put our best foot forward and the best version of ourselves out there.

MC: Has it worked out best for you because since you played that semi final you have had two big league games ahead of the final. Does that keep that intensity up there?

JC: I think so. It's always a hard one, keeping a balance between wanting maybe an easier game so that you can maybe rest players or take things a little bit easier going into a final, but I think for us it has worked out perfectly.

We've not lost any players with injury which is great for us because that's always the risk you know losing plays to match review panel or injury is always a concern.

But we've pulled through really well over the last couple of weeks. We've got confidence and momentum and we've worked our combinations really well.

Our centre wing combinations, have been outstanding and they're confident going into a big game, which is what we really need.

MC: In the centres, Erin Stott has been safe as houses in defence but she's a really potent attacker as well, isn't she?

JC: Erin's been unreal, I think she’s probably gone unnoticed a lot really through the start of the season but some of the efforts she's made have been in crucial points in games that could turn a game one way or another.

Some of her defensive efforts and little skill-based areas, with the right pass at the right time.

Defensively she's been so solid for us in that semi and in the Leeds game particularly I thought a calmness under pressure, an ability to take that high ball when Leeds were attacking our line and we're only one try ahead at that point and the game is in the balance.

 I think her maturity for an athlete and how she's making that centre position her own is absolutely outstanding.

She's such a key part of our squad now and I'm really excited to see how she goes.

MC: Who will be potentially be your Wembley first timers?

JC: Erin Stot came to us last year before Wembley but was cup tied because she played at Huddersfield. Georgia Sutherland, another one who came to us before Wembley but was cup tied because she played for Warrington in the cup.

So we've got those two, plus Darcy Stott, who broke her foot against Wigan last year. So we had the same fixture before Wembley and she was just really unlucky and broke her foot in that game so she missed out on Wembley and Leah, she had that bad injury last year, so I didn't get a chance to walk out on the field.

And there is full back Beri Salihi so there's a few girls who get the actual ability to go out and play on the field – squad dependent - it's going to be their first time so you feel like you're doing it for them as much as you are for yourself.

Because we have spoken so much about how good Wembley was last year.

It brought us together so much as a group - the experiences in the build up and on the pitch and afterwards - I think it cemented us as a group and you want that for the others so that they really feel part of that.

The girls who didn't play really embraced what Wembley was but for them to now be really part of it will be special.

MC: Do you have to look after them or does the sort of newness and their sort of excitement sort of gee you all up?

JC: I think I think they probably gee us up.

We have a really good balance of youth and experience in our squad, which I think is one of our strengths, so there's always an older head that can put an arm around some of the young ones or some of the less experienced ones and everybody does that.

Sometimes people ask me about being captain and I don't have anything to do as captain because we've got so many leaders that just do the right things all the time and look after everyone that my job's really easy.

I think what's brilliant about our squad is that variety that we have of experience and youth because that youth are the ones driving it forward.

They're the ones that are hopefully going to keep winning trophies for many years to come, and they inspire us.

Some of their attitudes really keep us on our toes and really make us raise our game as well.

Hopefully all that youth and experience is going to come together on Saturday.

MC: Leeds were your nemesis for a number of years, the worm has turned a little bit, but they are still fierce contests?

JC: We've got a really great rivalry on the go because every single game is so tight in the league and in cup finals, it's been six points in it most of the time one way or the other.

They have broken our hearts a few times in 2019 particularly, they knocked us out of semi final, the Challenge Cup and then in the play-offs to get to the Grand final, both by a last minute try.

I think we use that as motivation so much off the back of 2019 because 2020 season didn't happen and that genuinely spurred us on to make the most of that off year and going into 2021, where we dominated for that year.

What's great for fans is how unpredictable the games are. You can't call it either way on Saturday and that's exactly what you want from the women's game.

MC: The last game was a bit feisty - even after the final hooter?

JC: It did get a bit tasty last time out in the league because it was just so tense and so close like it always is.

But there's the utmost respect between both sides, as much as we've got a big rivalry on the go there are players on that side that played for us and we've got a lot of love for the girls on that side, and there's a lot of England players across the two. So we are often are on the same side as well.

And Lois Forsell is an ex-teammate of mine and I've got so much respect for Lois.

She was one of the most incredible players I've ever played with and she is now emulating that as a coach as well which is an inspiration to me. Hopefully I can follow in her footsteps when I retire.

So, as much as there's all that rivalry, all that competition, I think there's loads of respect between the two teams.

MC: There has been a massive build up to the weekend and the profile for this game is already high?

JC: We're going to be live on the BBC, we are playing at Wembley and it's the two best teams in the women's comp going head-to-head - what's not to get excited about?

Last year was a bit disappointing because we clashed with England women's football in the World Cup and I knew that was going to impact on viewing figures and everything else.

This year I'm really hoping we can have a big boost in terms of number of fans getting down there and the number of people watching on television as well.

MC: When the Saints men made it four in a row it was massive achievement. You've had ownership of this cup for three years, four would have a nice ring to it?

JC: Yeah, ‘four-midable’ that was the ring that they used for it when the lads did the four grand finals. And absolutely we want to copy that.

It's hard because you think maybe you'd lose motivation to keep turning up, keep performing when you've won it that many times.

But I think it's the polar opposite. You just get hungrier and hungrier to keep hold of it, because I think it would hurt so much to have to hand that trophy over.

So we're desperate for four. I think it'll be an amazing achievement if we do that because across the comp, Grand Final finalists and Grand final winners has changed year on year, whereas we've managed to maintain some consistency in this competition. So hopefully that continues this weekend.