BY JOHN DAVIDSON
Bookmakers and most of the rugby league world are expecting a Hull KR victory in Saturday’s Challenge Cup final, but that isn’t bothering the Warrington Wolves.
That’s the take of Wolves centre Roderick Tai, as the Wire prepare for their return to Wembley.
Betfred have the Robins favourites at 3/10, while Warrington are placed at 3/1. Hull KR have been flying this season, are in great form and have defeated Sam Burgess’ men in all of their last four meetings. The Robins beat the Wire 31-12 just two weeks ago in Super League.
Most view the Wolves as underdogs in the Cup final, but that doesn’t concern Tai.
“I’m not really sure about that, I wouldn’t really say anything about that,” he told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads.
“We’re just focusing on ourselves. We don’t pay much attention to what others are saying.
“Hull KR are a strong side. I take nothing away from them and we respect them and all that, but we’ll be focusing more on ourselves to get the job done.”
Warrington made it to Wembley last year but fell to Wigan. Tai believes the experience, his first at the iconic ground, will serve them in good stead this time round.
“Yeah definitely it will help,” he insists.
“Especially the stadium at Wembley, it’s massive and it startled me a bit when I went in. I know what to expect now and I’m looking forward to it and what’s coming, that’s a bonus.
“All of the boys are excited, it’s a very big game. We’ve been prepping for it, training has been really good.
“I’m feeling good. Obviously we lost last year so we’re keen to win it this year.”
2026 has not gone to plan so far for Warrington.
The Wire were humbled in Las Vegas, sit in eighth place on the Super League ladder and have been affected by a number of serious and long-term injuries. Forward Zane Musgrove was recently released by the club after an off-field incident.
The Papua New Guinea international admits it has been difficult.
“It’s been really tough playing with a different squad week-in-week-out and all that,” Tai said.
“But the boys that came in have done a job. I think we’ll be more consistent going on from here, George [Williams] is back and we’re looking to get a few more boys back.”
Tai hails from Mt Hagen, PNG’s third-largest city. The 26-year-old’s introduction to rugby league has been a different and speedy one – he only started playing organised rugby league when he went to university in 2017 to study for a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Physics.
The hard-hiting centre’s rise has been fast. He impressed in the universities competition before joining the academy side of local semi-professional team Lae Snax Tigers. In 2019 he made his Digicel Cup debut for the Tigers, helping them win back-to-back grand finals.
This earned him a move to the PNG Hunters in the Queensland Cup in 2022, and then selection for the Kumuls in the World Cup.
Tai caught the eye at the World Cup and spent a pre-season with Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins in the NRL. After more quality performances for the Hunters and his country in the Pacific Bowl series, he joined Warrington at the end of 2023.
And after 10 tries in 27 Super League appearances, Tai is back at Wembley.
He says the adjustment to life in England hasn’t always been easy.
“It’s been eye-opening for me living overseas, experiencing a new life and culture and all that,” the outside back said.
“Especially being away from family, that’s not part of our culture.
“Our culture is to stick together. We’re all neighbours, my family and that, we stick together and it has been a big move to leave them all and get out of that.”
But Tai will enjoy strong support on Saturday, with friends and family members following the game closely on TV from 10,000 miles away.
“They are very proud,” he said.
“All of my family, my tribe and my town are really proud of me. They’ve been supporting me a lot and I’m really happy that they’re proud.”