Family scrapbooks offer pointers to rival coaches

When their sides collide in the pick of the Carnegie Challenge Cup fourth-round ties, the two coaches will be drawing on all their own experience, nous and skills to navigate the tricky first hurdle on the way to Wembley.

Each will try to coax the desired performance from their team as they start out on the long road that for all but one will end in dashed dreams come August.

Striving for that extra edge which could prove the difference between the Yorkshire rivals is crucial ahead of 80 minutes' play which will make or break their cup hopes for another year.

However, each has a fountain of further knowledge to draw on as both their fathers know all about the special magic of the game's oldest and most famous knockout competition.

Richard Agar's father Allan coached Featherstone Rovers to a memorable victory over his son's current club in the 1983 Challenge Cup final at Wembley and Brian McClennan's father Mike was in charge of the

St Helens side that lost narrowly to Wigan there eight years later.

Allan Agar also enjoyed Wembley success as a scrum-half in the Hull KR team that defeated Hull FC at Wembley in 1980 so – given such pedigree and genes – it was no surprise when his son guided Hull to their own final two years ago.

"Those Wembley visits were definitely the highlight of my career," said Agar senior. "People often ask me which was the best.

"When I was growing up in Featherstone my dream was to play for Manchester United and play at Wembley.

"I didn't achieve the first but was lucky enough to achieve the second.

"I had been on the losing side in a couple of semi-finals with Dewsbury and thought the chance may have passed me by when I was a 30-year-old at Hull KR.

"But that Wembley win over Hull edges my success as a coach. It's always better to play."

Agar continued: "Everyone had written us off at Featherstone in '83.

"I had taken over as coach earlier that season and we had steered clear of relegation before beating Salford and St Helens away and then Bradford in the semi.

"We had the right mental approach to win the cup and that's what you need."

Hull may not 'need' Sean Long, Craig Fitzgibbon and Richard Horne but if any of that experienced triumvirate can return from injury for today's televised KC Stadium encounter their hopes of progressing in 2010 will be significantly bolstered.

The Airlie Birds lost their Super League match at Leeds 46-30 just six days ago when the trio's leadership qualities were certainly missed and Agar junior– who was assistant to John Kear when Hull won the 2005 cup final against the Rhinos in Cardiff – appreciates the quality they bring to his side.

The visitors, meanwhile, may have won Super League for three consecutive seasons but have not lifted the famous cup since 1999, losing in three finals since.

After years of heaping pressure on themselves to succeed, they are now adopting a relaxed mentality in their quest for success.

Captain Kevin Sinfield, whose side are 3-1 favourites despite their indifferent start to the league campaign, said: "The Challenge Cup has been built up for Leeds to be the missing piece of the jigsaw, the big crusade that we've all got, but it's not like that at all.

"In previous years it might have been from within but not this year. I think we are pretty relaxed about it."

However, Mike McClennan is desperate to see his son, who watched the 1991 final from back home in his native New Zealand, succeed where he failed.

"The final is always shown live in the early hours and when Brian was a boy we'd often get up early to watch it," he said.

"New Zealanders have a proud heritage in the Challenge Cup going back many years, from people like Lance Todd to blokes like James Leuluai, Dane O'Hara, Gary Kemble, Gary Prohm and Dean Bell.

"It would be fantastic were Brian to join that long list.

"We went down to Wembley together last year to watch the Warrington-Huddersfield final and I know how much it would mean to him and Leeds to win at Wembley.

"It would be marvellous for the Rhinos. Their success in the Grand Final is well documented and success in the Challenge Cup is long overdue.

"We're coming over to the UK in early August and it would be great if our visit coincides with Leeds playing at Wembley."