Wigan hope to rise to occasion

Sean O'Loughlin, left, is savouring the build-up to the Challenge Cup final
22 August 2013

Wigan captain Sean O'Loughlin is convinced his side's form will return when it matters at Wembley on Saturday.

The Warriors are firm favourites to win the Tetley's Challenge Cup for a record 19th time but their recent form will give opponents Hull plenty of encouragement.

Shaun Wane's men have won just two of their last seven games in Super League to surrender a League Leaders' Shield that seemed theirs for the taking.

That sequence has been punctuated by good performances in the cup, not least the 70-0 thrashing of London Broncos in the semi-final, and O'Loughlin expects Saturday's occasion to reignite the team.

O'Loughlin, who hopes to return to action after two games out with a calf injury, said: "We have not had the results but I don't think we have been too far off in terms of the performances.

"We have had some tough games in which we have just missed out and have had some injuries.

"There is quite a lot more in us.

"The final is a bit of a break from Super League. We can put all that to the back of the mind and concentrate solely on the one game.

"Hopefully that will bring the best out of everyone, raise everyone's game more and we'll put in a better performance."

O'Loughlin, 30, lifted the Challenge Cup as Wigan skipper in 2011, a year after success in the Super League Grand Final.

The loose forward hopes that experience will count against a club that has not featured in a final for five years.

O'Loughlin, who made his Wigan debut against Hull in 2002, said: "I feel like I am in a very privileged position.

"I have played here for a lot of years now and have a lot of experience of playing.

"It's not so much of finals - it's only recently I've had the chance to be involved in finals and win trophies - but we have got a few players that were there in 2011 and experienced it.

"I think that does come in handy and you can pass some experience on to some of the younger boys.

"It is a special week, leading up to the Challenge Cup final.

"We will take it all in our stride and enjoy what comes with it."

O'Loughlin, a product of Wigan's youth system, grew up in an era of cherry and white Challenge Cup dominance.

Wigan have won the competition 11 times since O'Loughlin was born, including the remarkable eight in succession from 1988-95.

The skipper wants to help build a new era of success.

He said: "In a few previous years we had a final each year.

"The spectators enjoyed that, the players enjoyed being there.

"Not to have that last year was disappointing but we have got there now.

"It is about doing the job and putting smiles on people's faces."

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