Hull FC's Jake Connor ready to make "magic" at home of Liverpool heroes
Hull take on the England star’s former club Huddersfield Giants when the Super League bonanza heads to Anfield for the first time on Saturday week.
Versatile back Connor, 24, scored for his country as they beat New Zealand in the second Test at the famous stadium last autumn on the way to lifting the Baskerville Shield.
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Hide AdAnd after seeing Liverpool reach the Champions League final with their dramatic 4-0 win over Barcelona last week he cannot wait to head back there again.
"Watching the way Liverpool have played this season probably makes me more excited to play at Anfield next weekend,” he said.
“The win against Barcelona in the Champions League last week was one of those magical nights that will go down in history.
“I was sat at home watching the game with my pals and I don't think I had a voice left by the end of the game!
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Hide Ad“To think we'll be playing on that pitch in just over seven days is something that really excites me and hopefully we can get the win."
After Magic Weekends in Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester and Newcastle, the event - where all dozen Super League clubs play over two days - is making new ground at Anfield.
“I've played there before and I know exactly what the atmosphere is going to be like,” said Connor.
“It might be a bit more of a party atmosphere with there being fans from different clubs all coming together, but I feel comfortable having played there before.
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Hide Ad"To get the opportunity to go there again is going to be a massive honour. I feel like we have a chance to go there and make some great memories.
"As a kid, I always dreamed of playing at Anfield, whether it was a football player or a rugby player.”
Connor joined Hull from Huddersfield at the end of 2016 and went on to win the Challenge Cup in his first season with the Black and Whites who are into the quarter-finals again this term.
On facing his former team, he added: "I think I'm over the stage of it being a strange feeling now.
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Hide Ad“The first couple of times I played Huddersfield with Hull was weird going up against some of the boys I grew up with, but I'm past that now.
"Huddersfield are no different to any other team in Super League in my mind. “Whether I've still got mates there or not, I'm a Hull FC player now and I have been for the last three years, so I will be going out there wanting to get the two points."