Hall sure belief is there to make it third time lucky in final

The England winger took his tally for the season to 22 tries after scoring twice in Saturday’s epic 39-28 semi-final victory over holders and huge favourites Wigan Warriors.

They face Warrington in the showpiece at Wembley on August 25 looking to end their quest for the holy grail, having lost against the Wolves and Wigan in the last two years.

Yesterday, Warrington brushed aside Huddersfield Giants 33-6.

Champions Leeds have dominated Super League of late and are the World Club champions but have fallen in the Challenge Cup final in five attempts since last winning in 1999.

Hall told the Yorkshire Post: “It’s something that’s been mentioned that this could be third year lucky.

“We all truly believe it is. The Challenge Cup has eluded this group for so long.

“We’ve been champions four times out of of the last five but all desperately want to get our hands on that prestigious trophy.”

The brilliance illustrated in their destruction of leaders Wigan suggests this remarkable squad could finally complete the jigsaw.

Leeds had been annihilated 50-8 by them at Headingley only six weeks ago and similarly dispatched by Warrington but won four consecutive games to build up perfectly for this contest and always knew they had the ability.

Hall, 24, added: “We’re a side that has never lost belief in anything we’ve done.

“For the last five years I’ve been at this club it’s always been the mentality – belief.

“That was on show here in one of the best performances against a side that are flying.

“The last time we played Wigan they had players out and still put 50 points on us so for us to turn it around like this, on the big stage, shows real evidence of that belief.

“The first 10 minutes were crucial when we went 16-0 up. We came out throwing as many punches as we could and that’s what got us the game.”

Captain Kevin Sinfield was named man of the match for a peerless kicking performance but he added: “A kick is only as good as its chase and our chase was aggressive and had so much desire to get down there. I’ve got to give all our pack a big wrap.

“Our big men set a huge platform for us.”

Coach Brian McDermott concurred: “They kept coming at us and, if our pack hadn’t been as tough as they were, we wouldn’t have got the job done.”

Wigan coach Shaun Wane was left to lament his side’s worst performance of the season.

“We didn’t turn up today but take nothing way from Leeds,” he said.

“They wanted it more which to me is gutting. They’ve some real warriors.”