WILL HE, WON'T HE? Mcllorum on his return from injury for emotional last day out at Wembley

VETERAN BOUNCED BACK FROM RUPTURED BICEP EARLY TO PLAY HIS PART

- By DAVID CRAVEN

T was one of the big debates in the build-up to the Challenge Cup final: would Hull KR's Micky McIlorum return from a ruptured bicep weeks ahead of schedule and play?

There were mind games, misdirection and actual genuine uncertainty over the ex-England hooker's role.

The experienced 37 year-old had been signed from Catalans ahead of the new season, principally to help turn the nearly-men into winners.

But the Super League veteran knew this was also to be a last Challenge Cup final appearance ahead of a planned retirement at the end of the season.

After the game we grabbed the Robins No9 to talk about the build-up, his 27 minute stint at the start of an historic encounter, what it means winning the Cup once again having done so with Wigan and Catalans, and just how he managed to get to Wembley having only suffered that injury on April 11.

Go on, then how nip and tuck was it? How close were you in terms of playing, when was it decided?

Erm, probably Wednesday, I think it was all a bit of smoke and mirrors. We had a pretty big session on Wednesday, I got through OK. So, yeah, that was the main test, really. Obviously, I had an extra couple of days to rest and heal so I knew I'd be OK.

So not coming to the Captain's Run, was that just to keep the illusion going a bit longer?

No, I was here - but you must have all gone!

Obviously you've won it before, how good did it feel to get out there and do the job?

Yeah, it was a little bit different because I was sat on the sidelines watching, so it was a strange one. Obviously you can’t do anything to try and help the boys. Usually I'm out there for, well, back in the day, 80 minutes, so it was a different experience willing the boys on. We blew a few chances and it looked like it wasn’t going to be our time this year. But to finally get the try at the end and end that 45 year wait, it’s great for the town.