In many ways, England star Jodie Cunningham can’t lose on Saturday.
The St Helens captain takes the holders into battle against Leeds Rhinos in the Betfred Challenge Cup final. It kicks off a thrilling treble-header with both of the men’s semi-finals also in action at Elland Road. Dominant Saints won the treble last year including a Super League Grand Final victory against Leeds who will be keen to exact revenge.
But even if they do cause an upset, Cunningham can glean positives - she also works as the RFL's national women’s and girls’ development manager. With the Challenge Cup final broadcast live on BBC2 for a second year running, the reigning Woman of Steel knows whatever happens will be good for the sport. Cunningham, 30, admitted: “For me, on both sides of the fence, it’s great.
“As a player - wow, what an opportunity. I’ve won the Challenge Cup five times but don't feel like it. I had to check when asked which is ridiculous! It was only last year I felt like I’d really won it (at Leigh Sports Village) because of all the publicity, hype and people getting behind the spectacle of the women. It felt special. But that’s testament to where the women’s game’s now at.
“When I was at Thatto Heath winning the Cup four years running from 2013 to 2016, I could never have dreamed of playing a triple-header at Elland Road on terrestrial TV. It was beyond anything I could ever imagine.”
And with her RFL hat on, this weekend offers a wonderful opportunity to showcase the game further. She added: "As someone who’s working towards getting more girls involved, it’s a brilliant platform. Being on BBC free-to-air, the opportunity for people to casually fall across it on prime-time Saturday is really important.
“We want young girls to be sitting at home, seeing that and saying ‘I want to do that.’ I can’t tell you how many parents have come up to me and said what the women’s game has done for their little girl, given them role models - something I never had - and it’s a nice family thing for them to get involved in.”
But the biggest barometer of progress will be when the World Cup kicks-off this autumn with England starting against Brazil on November 1. Cunningham said: “We want to make sure we do everything right so when we walk out at Headingley with an England badge on we’re doing it to a full crowd - a standalone women’s game that sells out."
With Saturday's exposure and the skill and talent on show, it’d be no surprise if they do just that.
