Joel Monaghan admits the chance to switch focus onto a second competition in Europe is one he still finds refreshingly novel as Warrington welcome Salford in the Challenge Cup fifth round.
Former Canberra Raiders and Australian Test winger Monaghan helped Warrington lift the Challenge Cup for the third time in four years last season, having only made it to the quarter-finals with the Wolves in his first season in Europe in 2011.
Warrington got the defence of their title off to a winning start against Championship outfit Keighley last month, 31-year-old Monaghan featuring but not scoring in the 74-4 fourth-round win.
The Wolves now face Salford at home in the fifth round and, with Warrington currently third in the Super League table, Monaghan welcomes the opportunity to bid for success on two fronts.
“It’s a home game, which is good,” said Monaghan, who switched from Canberra to Warrington for the 2011 season.
“It’s another good thing over here in this country where you get the Challenge Cup because they don’t really have anything like that back home.
“I quite enjoy it, it’s something different and the tradition’s there and being the holders it’s ours to lose at the moment so people have got to come and beat us.
“We’re happy with how it’s going. There were a couple of upsets in the last round so you can’t take anyone lightly and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Hull FC captain Gareth Ellis has returned in time to face his first club Wakefield in the fifth round having finally made his Black and Whites debut in their Super League win over London Broncos.
Hull FC face Wakefield on Friday with London Broncos welcoming Bradford Bulls on the same night as they bid to reach the Wembley final for the first time in 14 years.
The Broncos beat Featherstone in round four before defeating St Helens in the Super League and then losing to Hull FC and their Australian head coach Tony Rea can’t wait to return to cup action.
“People say you’ve just got to focus from week to week but that’s been a little bit hard to do. You have it [the Challenge Cup] in the back of your mind and look forward to it,” Rea said.