JON Wilkin will fulfill a childhood dream when he runs out at Wembley on Saturday.

The St Helens loose forward, who hails from a rugby league family on Humberside, has already enjoyed Challenge Cup success in Cardiff in 2004 and Twickenham 12 months ago but admits that appearing in the first final back at the revamped national stadium will take some beating.

"I went to the old Wembley three times with my parents and watched a few Test matches there," he said. "It was an amazing venue and to be at the new Wembley is going to be something special.

"I remember watching Saints beat Bradford there in 1997 and dreaming on the way home on the bus about being involved one day myself.

"I never dared to believe it could come true and I still pinch myself now that I'm involved in such a good Saints side and that I've played in two Challenge Cup finals already.

"I'm extremely lucky to be in this position on the back of some hard work but I place a lot of it down to good luck as well."

Victory over surprise finalists Catalans Dragons would enable the champions to make an indelible mark in history, just as arch rivals Wigan did in 1929 when they won the first Wembley final.

The sense of occasion is not lost on Wilkin, who admits the eagerly-awaited return to Wembley has created an extra incentive for players this year.

"If you look back in rugby league there are a lot of things that stand the test of time and the first final at Wembley in 2007 is one of those things," he said.

History

"Maybe in a hundred years time when they've had a hundred finals there, people will look back at this.

"As players, you want to leave a stamp on the history of the game and playing in the first Wembley final creates a massive opportunity to leave a legacy."

Wilkin provided a legacy from last year's final with arguably the abiding memory of Saints' 42-12 victory over Huddersfield by re-appearing from the bench wearing strapping across his face that resembled a mask.

The 21-year-old Great Britain international needed the strapping to stop the flow of blood from a badly-broken nose and he defied the pain to score a brace of tries and push Sean Long all the way for the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match.

"Coming close to the final, people bring it up and I look back and laugh," he said.

"It was just a bizarre day. It was just one of those things. I get some ribbing from the players and certain members of the press as well but it's all good fun.

"If you ask any player in our team if they would take a knock like that for the team, as long as we came out on top, I'm sure everyone would say they would.

"It's not being brave or putting your body on the line as such, it's just that our desire to win and to be successful is that great it comes second to self-preservation sometimes and that is probably one of the keys to our success.

"We put each other before ourselves a lot of the time - in training and games as well."

Wilkin is fancied to complete a hat-trick of Challenge Cup winner's medals but he is refusing to underestimate the challenge of the Catalans, especially after their 21-0 win over the holders in Perpignan a fortnight ago.

The Dragons are being quoted as much as 5-1 to lift the Cup, odds which Wilkin describes as ridiculous.

"It's a two-horse race, where the percentage difference between the two teams is so small," he said.

"Going into a big game like that, it's evens. You can't honestly pick a winner before the game, I'm a firm believer of that.

"If we win the game it's because we've deserved and earned it and nothing we've done prior to the game will influence the game. It's how we turn up that will influence the outcome." Tweet