Former Black & White winger Gareth Raynor has reflected on the role he played in the side’s 2005 Challenge Cup Final victory, and says despite scoring in the game, still hasn’t forgiven himself for giving away a penalty try!
The former electric winger was one of four Hull FC try scorers in the Cardiff final, 15 years ago today at the Millennium Stadium, but says the try was ‘redemption’ after his error allowed Rhinos winger Mark Calderwood to score their first try of the game.
A key player throughout Hull’s run to the final, Raynor believes there was no pressure on Hull going into the game as big underdogs, but the feeling in the camp was strong having beaten Super League sides earlier in that season’s competition.
On the cup run, Raynor explained: “Nobody expected us to win against Bradford, Saints or Leeds, so there was no pressure. We wasn’t a team of ‘superstars’ so to speak like them three were, even though we had some superb players in that squad – a lot were young local lads who were still early in their careers.
“We showed the mentality of fighting for each other and being there for each other for 80 minutes. When you look at the squad actually, it’s mad to think we were underdogs because of the quality players in that squad. But we were called that because we hadn’t won anything recently like St Helens or Leeds.”
And the club’s third-placed Super League top try-scorer has vivid memories of cup final day in Cardiff, but despite scoring in the match, is keen to forget his penalty try mistake!
“It was an easy one in the corner, just squeezed over, but it was a great feeling to score in the cup final. I still talk about it all the time to my partner! I had to score though given the mistake I made giving the penalty try away – I didn’t used to make many mistakes but that was a huge cock-up in front of 70,000 people.
“When the ball went up, I knew I should have left it for Motu Tony, but I came off my wing and got in his way, lost possession and give away the first ever penalty try in a cup final to Mark Calderwood!
“I’ve never been able to watch the match back properly because of that; I went to a players reunion about five years ago and I had my head in my hands when that bit was coming up on the replay – I’ve never got over up because I don’t like to make mistakes, but scoring the try eased that, and obviously winning too!
“The cup final win put FC back on the map as a real contender again after a decade or so to forget.”
To read Shayne McMenemey’s memories of the day – click here
To read Paul Cooke’s memories of the day – click here
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