Jake Connor explains why winning the Challenge Cup this year would mean more to him than Hull FC’s 2017 triumph

Hull FC have enjoyed a lot of recent success in the Challenge Cup.

The Black and Whites won it in consecutive seasons in 2016 and 2017 and played in the semi-finals in 2019 and 2021.

As they go in search of the trophy again in 2022, they face Huddersfield Giants today who stand between the Black and Whites and a place in the semi-finals alongside rivals Hull KR who defeated Castleford Tigers and former Hull cup winning coach Lee Radford to secure their place in the final four last night.

With a potential Hull derby on the cards at Elland Road in the semi-finals or the final at the Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium, Hull will be looking to use their experience to good work to go as far as possible in the competition.

On the back of their success in the cup over the last half a decade or so, Hull’s squad has plenty of players well versed in winning the tournament including star fullback Jake Connor. However, despite being a part of the side who won the Challenge Cup against Wigan in 2017, Connor has explained why winning it in 2022 would mean more to him.

“It’s big,” Connor said of today’s quarter-final with Huddersfield, “Obviously the first year I signed here we won a Challenge Cup and I was part of it but I was on the bench, kind of in and out of the team so it kind of didn’t really have that feel to it as much as some of the other players who played every game. So, I really want to win it where I’ve played in every game to see how special it is.

“That’s what I want to do but it’s a big game coming up against Huddersfield. We’re confident. Every game’s a final now so we’ve just got to play better on the day.”

Looking to be the star man as Hull FC win a third Challenge Cup in seven seasons, Connor will be hoping to inspire his side to victory against his former club the Huddersfield Giants today.

It was the Giants Connor left to join Hull ahead of 2017 and his previous cup success and he believes Hull know how to beat the in form Huddersfield and progress to the semi-finals of the competition again in 2022.

He said: “They’ve been good. They’ve been playing some patient rugby. They complete high and stick teams in the corner and basically wait for the other team to crumble and they’ve done it well but we played them a few weeks back and we turned them over so I think that helps us. We know what’s coming and we’ve already done it once so I don’t see why we can’t do it again.”

The rest of Connor’s comments and the pre-match presser in full can be accessed here.

🎥 Jake Connor previews this afternoon's Betfred Challenge Cup Quarter-Final at the John Smith's Stadium, and assess the Giants and their recent form…

Pre-Match Press Conference 👉 https://t.co/ipIxEtxU1e

⚫️⚪️ #COYH pic.twitter.com/yNcK1hLRAY

— Hull FC (@hullfcofficial) April 9, 2022