Super League / Ralph Ellis / 02 April 2009 / Leave a comment

Rugby League's two heavyweights collide when holders St Helens play at Leeds in the first round of the Challenge Cup on Sunday afternoon. Betfair went to meet Saints' veteran skipper Keiron Cunningham to find out more.

Hi Keiron, so could you have a more massive game in the first round?

I know, it should have been the final or at least the semi, but it's not and one of us is going to be out of the cup first go.

What did you think when you heard the draw get made?

Sort of predictable, maybe. We've won it three years in a row, and however many brick walls that can be put up in front of us doing it again, that's how it will be. It's okay, we have just got to get through and get on with it. I'm looking forward to it, it's always great to play Leeds whether it's a Super League game or in the Cup. It should be entertaining.

You beat them 26-18 two weeks ago. What difference will that make?

Probably not a lot. We played for two points on the night, and there was stuff which was very unlike Leeds. Don't get me wrong, I thought we played well, but if we're honest there were certain areas where Leeds could have done a bit better and they will know that. Both sides will try to right a few problems. We know we could easily be knocked out if we don't get our game together

There seems to be a great rivalry developing. They beat you in the Grand Final, now you've turned them over in the League.

I've said that for the last couple of years, since Wigan's dominance has dropped off. Our biggest game used to be the derby against Wigan, but now the matches against Leeds have taken over. We both relish the contest and it seems to bring out the best from both sides and makes for a good spectacle

You've had a good start to the season...

Yeah, it was a big goal to do that. You know the last couple of years we've started really scratchy, and dropped a lot of points that we've rued a bit come mid season. We've pulled it together each time, but this year we've made a big point of trying to start as well as we could. We dropped two points against Hull KR which was disappointing because we didn't play as well as we could have done, but apart form that we've got wins which have taken us forward. They all count at the end of the year

How do you do that. It's easy to talk about making a good start, but what have you done different?

You're right it is very difficult. We've a new coach in Mick Potter which helps, and knowing what happened at the back end of last year and the year before. If it wasn't for our run of form at the back end of both years then we wouldn't have finished so high in the league, and that made the job harder. We just don't want to make it more difficult for ourselves this time. If we can get points now when the weather is still bad and the pitches still heavy then we know when it dries up we come into our own. We've just got to grind them out at the moment

So have you done anything different pre-season?

Fitness wise yes. We're a hell of a lot fitter than what we were at this time the last couple of years. We really have put ourselves to the sword regarding fitness, but apart from that nothing's really changed. It's helped to have a new coach coming in and the mental focus goes up. Everybody is trying to impress the new gaffer, so it does help.

How have you found that extra fitness work yourself. In other sports people don't get written off after 30 any more, but surely it must be tough in Rugby League where the body takes such massive hits?

I'd like to think that's changing in Rugby League too, I don't know if I'm setting a cause for that, but I seem to have played some of my best rugby since I passed 30 which is two years ago now. I've been evolving my game in different ways. I think it's as much a challenge for your mind as your body. I still love playing rugby and if you are playing well you just get on with it. If you are looking round the corner all the time thinking: 'My God I'm 30', then you will write yourself off long before others do.

The footballers have got into yoga and stuff like that to help prolong their careers. What about you?

I don't think so - I'm ot sure that's for me. It might be good for your inner peace but you don't want to feel peaceful when you're being smashed around the field anyway! Ot sounds like a cliché, but genuinely all I need is just a love for playing the game. I enjoy training every morning, playing every week, it's just what I get out of bed for

Has the captaincy been a help?

It may have been, but really it's just leading the side out and - hopefully - lifting the trophy on special occasions! Me and Shaun and Scully have pretty much done that between ourselves for the last few years anyway, it's just they had the pleasure of lifting the trophies and I've done it for the last couple of years. I am a senior player and one of the older guys and it's nice to be looked up to by the younger kids, and I try to lead by example on the field rather than by what I say. I hope I do a good job of doing that

You've got some good youngsters coming. The Wakefield win when the likes of Matty Ashurst and Jonny Lomax did so well showed that...

It was great to be among them. We see them in training every day and know potentially how good they are. Unleashing them on the public for the first time is exciting for everybody involved with the club. I've been there myself, been a kid and come through, I know what it is like to make a debut. They are the future of the club and what will take us forward.

How do you see the state of Rugby League overall? There's a challenge with Union trying to poach some of your players.

I think our game is still very healthy, we've got a very good spectacle to sell. I don't think we can compete with Union on an international level, if I'm honest, but hopefully that will get better in the future. We seem we get so close to Aussie teams, and beat the Kiwis, and then went to a World Cup and fell on our faces. On a broad scale we are moving forward. Television rights seem to want to get our game now. From when I first started we are light years ahead, so maybe in another decade we can move a few more light years forward. We've got the product on the field to sell it, we've just got to get the right people involved to do that.

You signed a 12 month contract last year. Will you sign another one?

I think it is possible for a player to keep going to 35 or 36. I've not given myself a time frame. If last year I hadn't played as well as I thought I could, I would have finished, and the same applies at the end of this summer. But if I feel the side still needs me and I'm doing a great job for the side then I'll go round again. That's the way it is. You can't set a time frame - I'll know myself when it's over.

You'll be hoping to make that decision after another Challenge Cup final then!

I'd like to think so, but we've got Leeds to get through first!!

Keiron thanks for your time, and we've a free £50 bet for your favourite charity.

I'll donate that to Wakefield's fund for when it's set up, and as Liverpool are my other sporting passion I'll back them at [4.3] to win the Premier League. The momentum is with them now!