Hull KR and Leigh Leopards stars' irreverent look at Wembley Cup final line-ups

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Hull KR loose forward Elliot Minchella (Image: Mick Atkins/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)
Hull KR loose forward Elliot Minchella (Image: Mick Atkins/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)

Ahead of the Betfred Challenge Cup final, Hull KR loose forward Elliot Minchella and Leigh Leopards centre Zak Hardaker take us inside camp to give the real stories about their teammates who'll be lining up at Wembley.

For the Robins, who's nicknamed The Saviour, who's labelled the Most Boring Man In Rugby League and which player is dubbed as head coach Willie Peters' son? And over for the Leythers which superstar is obsessed with Prime, who's the player who drives a KIA estate and which forward is the self-titled Axeman.

HULL KR (courtesy of Elliot Minchella)

Mikey Lewis: Self-proclaimed superstar, loves his social media and thinks he’s David Beckham. Also reckons he’s Instagram famous but good to have on your team.

Ethan Ryan: Tighter than cramp and typical Yorkshire bloke. Loves a bet between the boys - cards, cricket, golf. Anything.

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Shaun Kenny-Dowall: I haven’t got a bad word to say about Skids. He’s just our leader. I’ll let him off lightly.

Tom Opacic : Tommy’s fitted in really well but he’s the worst trainer and always wears a waterproof zipped jacket come rain or shine. He’s from Townsville so hates our weather.

Ryan Hall: The most boring man in rugby league. He’s maths everything so even if we do a review it’s all stats and maths driven which is very boring on a Monday morning.

Brad Schneider: The Saviour. Self-proclaimed but all the boys do call him it after his exploits. He’s a good lad. Very quiet but can kick a drop-goal.

Rowan Milnes: Has a dog’s body. Shouldn’t be a half-back. Doesn’t look like a rugby player - tall and fat - and worst hairline in the team.

Rhys Kennedy: Oddball and a typical Aussie, never heard of anything in England before. A character.

Jez Litten: He’s from Hull and thinks you need a passport to leave. Any team function or meal in Leeds or wherever and he just never attends.

George King: Could talk for hours about George King. We have a saying ‘There’s no i in team but there’s one in King.’ Travelled with him for two years and absolutely hated it. Another tight one.

Hull KR and Leigh Leopards stars' irreverent look at Wembley Cup final line-upsHull KR's Brad 'The Saviour' Schneider scores his golden-point winner against Wigan in the Challenge Cup semi-final (Getty Images)

James Batchelor: Another you can’t say a bad word about. Workhorse. Willie Peters’ son. Plenty of money as well. He’s bought about ten houses in Hull and only been there six months.

Kane Linnett: Very quiet man, good fella and well respected but dresses like a lumberjack. Another Aussie who’s come over from the middle of nowhere, wears some very strange outfits like jeans with cuffs on the bottom.

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Elliot Minchella: I’m pretty tight myself. And pretty maungy. Better not say too much more.

Matt Parcell: Another character. Just does his own thing, very weird and gluten-free as well so we get into him about that as he has to eat everything different to everyone else.

Dean Hadley: Another one of Willie’s kids. He’s also got loads of money. He’s the King of East Hull and you can’t do anything there without getting his permission first.

Sam Luckley: If you can imagine a 50 year-old bloke who’s retired and just loves a pint and a pie, that’s him. Typical Geordie, so laid-back and a great bloke.

Matty Storton: Keighley’s finest. He’s odd. Loves his sci-fi stuff and loves to go for walks on his own.

Hull KR and Leigh Leopards stars' irreverent look at Wembley Cup final line-upsHull KR's James Batchelor in the Challenge Cup semi-final (Getty Images)

LEIGH LEOPARDS (courtesy of Zak Hardaker)

Gareth O'Brien: Apart from losing his fringe, a really good bloke and very happy. We have a punters group and he’s managing the money but we’re not quite sure if it’s going the right way or not so we’ll see at the end of the year about Gaz.

Tom Briscoe: I can’t say a bad word about Tom. Loving playing with him again. In the carpool together and it’s a great Yorkshire bus.

Zak Hardaker: Great lad, really sexy and loads of hair? Really enjoying it at the minute. Loving it.

Ed Chamberlain: Quite quiet, Chambo. Got a marine army cut going on with his hair, drives an old man’s Kia - an estate as well which makes it even worse.

Josh Charnley: A lovable rogue. Forever getting sponsorship deals and wanting everything for free while complaining about his Range Rover breaking down. I love Josh. A good bloke.

Lachlan Lam: Flamboyant. Always walking around with a can of Prime in his hand. Loves a Prime.

Ben Reynolds: Another struggling with his hair. Growing it long just to cover the receding bits. Forever thinking he’s the top-looking in the squad but really falling down the pecking order.

Tom Amone: Can’t say a bad word about Tom, either. He’s a bit shy with his public speaking and every other word is ‘toko’ but a lovely bloke.

Edwin Ipape: Brilliant. A really good character. Quite quiet but when he does speak it’s usually something funny. Always ducking and diving looking like he’s up to no good.

Robbie Mulhern: The vegan man. Loves his nature. Goes walking by himself. I think it’s a bit odd but he’s going really well so whatever he’s doing it works.

Kai O’Donnell: Absolutely lives and breathes the gym. Loves lifting weights as you can see. Don’t think he has a private life because of the gym.

Jack Hughes: Comes across quite grumpy but smiles every now and again. Mad into his business work and after training always in his work gear.

John Asiata: Nothing bad to say about John. Everything he does is just caring and wants the best for everyone. Absolutely outstanding on the field, never misses training and plays like he’s 20.

Joe Mellor: Pre-season he had really long hair but every two months gradually cut it shorter and now looks like a little boy. Ageing but getting younger: I should have done that.

Matt Davis: The self-proclaimed ‘Axeman’ cos apparently he chops people down. Can’t take anyone too seriously when they’ve come up with their own nickname, though, and it’s even on his car number plate.

Ben Nakubuwai: Big human, loveable and quiet. Just goes about his business - in a suspicious quiet way.

Oli Holmes: Absolutely clinging onto his hair for dear life. Always complaining about his bad knee. Just got a dog but don’t know why because he only ever whinges about it.

David Craven

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