The winter spent slogging away in most weathers on the practice ground are paying off for Josh Charnley at Warrington Wolves.
The winger and his team-mates saw their efforts rewarded in August when they overcame rivals St Helens 18-4 in Wembley to raise the Challenge Cup, banishing the memories of their last year’s defeat against Catalans Dragons.
Warrington are still which has up to now proved elusive for them that being the Super League title, and start their search to come back to the Grand Final in the home night.
Last year’s 12-4 loss to Wigan Warriors in Old Trafford was the Wolves’ fourth defeat in Super League’s showpiece game and with a single trophy already procured, Charnley wants to make sure Steve Price’s side do not see their efforts during the season go to waste.
“The pain was there (ahead of the Challenge Cup final) and we spoke about it ” Charnley told Sky Sports.
“It is not wonderful shedding and you work so hard, you’re in over Christmas training hard from the snow and the rain, and you do whatever you can to get some silverware.
“Last yearwe were fortunate enough to maintain two finals and we dropped themwe began this year with targets and we have got one of those goals now. We just require the previous piece of the puzzle”
A return to Old Trafford would indicate Warrington on Charnley’s fourth look in two seasons at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having returned to league in 2018.
The 28-year-old still reflects on his spell in union, although he didn’t have quite the exact identical impact with Luxurious since wide-man Denny Solomona.
It didn’t take long for the Wigan player to settle back to league when he came in Warrington, bringing with him some improvements to his game while playing for the Sharks, he made.
“I have played rugby league because I was six and I have never know another sport, so it was not too hard to get into it,” Charnley said.
“The greatest thing was getting my body back into the contact, so which has been the largest threat.
“I think I am maybe more comfy under the high ball. There is a whole lot of grabbing and kicking.
“It’s little technical things and a lot of union teams now are taking league in their game. I enjoyed my spell there and if I catch a large ball over my mind I am laughing.”
Charnley understands what it takes to get to win the Super League Grand Final having been part of the Wigan teams that triumphed in 2010, 2013 and 2016 – that the latter two seeing with the Cherry and Whites overcome his present club.
But despite this Challenge Cup victory, Warrington’s form from the league was patchy in the final weeks of the season as they slipped to fourth, placing them in a removal final with fifth-placed Castleford.
Charnley has supported Warrington to flourish in that scenario however, employing the lessons learned to help them.
“It was one of them where we had to remain in the game,” Charnley explained. “Saints are a great team and we are a fantastic team on the afternoon, therefore it was likely to be a thrilling match.
“It was just down to that kept hold of the ball and did the right things.
“We get one shot now and on Thursday we’re carrying that into it, so we’re fully relied on performing the job.”
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