James Donaldson eager to atone for Hull KR’s 2015 humiliation with Leeds Rhinos

The industrious back-row lines up for Leeds against Salford Red Devils at Wembley – five years after being on the end of that embarrassing loss.

Donaldson, 29, admitted: “We were devastated. It didn’t go to plan and you know those chances don’t come around very often.

“You’re very lucky if you get a chance to play in one, never mind two, Challenge Cup finals.

“I still get that sourness in the back of my throat thinking about it and I wanted to get back there. Now I do get another chance.”

Looking at what went so badly wrong in 2015 – Rovers’ first final in almost 30 years – he added: “The way we built it up; the excitement of it all, the big send-off, getting down there a couple of days before…

“We trained on a field at London Wasps and it looked like a cow field. The boys were scared of rolling their ankles, the team-run wasn’t the best and the next day it just didn’t go to plan.

“It was devastating the manner of how we got beat. But Leeds were top class. I don’t think there was any stopping them. That year they won the treble.”

Donaldson was released by KR in 2018 but was given a chance by Leeds on trial and is now one of their most reliable performers.

He said: “All the hard work I’ve put in to get into this position, these are the rewards I work for.

“When teams don’t want you and you have to do all your training on your own but know you can still offer things, to get to this now, playing in a Challenge Cup final with Leeds, one of the best teams in the world, is beyond my wildest dreams.

“And I’m definitely going with an attitude this time that nothing is going to stop us.”

There are no surprises in Leeds’ 21-man squad but Salford have revealed full-back Dan Sarginson misses out due to Covid – Jack Ormondroyd is the other positive in their ranks – although Niall Evalds returns from injury to take his place.

Meanwhile, although Wembley will be empty tomorrow due to the game being played behind closed doors, family will still be at the forefront of Donaldson’s mind.

The former Bradford Bulls forward has spoken before of how his brother Craig was paralysed following a freak accident on their farm in Cumbria ten years ago.

“Those things do drive me,” added Donaldson, who has overcome three ACLs himself and a broken back earlier this season.

“I’m from a really tight-knit family. My brother with his accident, my grandad’s fighting terminal cancer and my Aunty Joyce is fighting brain tumours so they’re my reason why.

“All I want to do is for them. Me and my wife have a baby now so you find different ways along the way about why you want to win and it will make it that extra bit special that they can watch from home and get joy out of it.”

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today.

Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers.

So, please - if you can - pay for our work. Just £5 per month is the starting point. If you think that which we are trying to achieve is worth more, you can pay us what you think we are worth. By doing so, you will be investing in something that is becoming increasingly rare. Independent journalism that cares less about right and left and more about right and wrong. Journalism you can trust.

Thank you

James Mitchinson