As players, the Super League licence isn't something we've been focusing on because we couldn't really do anything about it, but it was still at the back of our minds.

There was a lot of talk that one of the existing clubs would miss out and a lot of people wanted to point the finger at Wakefield, but I couldn't really understand why.

Maybe a couple of years ago I could have understood it, when we were struggling a bit on and off the field, but the club has come a long way in the last couple of seasons, crowds are up, we're established as a mid-table team and we're pushing for the top-six.

The club as a whole has done a great job, it is getting better and better and it would have been a real shame if we hadn't got a licence. Now that's sorted out, everyone can concentrate on Sunday's Challenge Cup semi-final against Hull.

Improved

Obviously, not having had a win in the last four games hasn't been the best preparation, but defensively I think we improved against Hull a couple of weeks ago and again when we played Bradford last Sunday.

Our goal is to keep any team to 18 points or less and Bradford only got one try extra, so we're heading in the right direction.

But there's still plenty to work on and we will have to make sure we take our chances when they come along on Sunday.

The semi-final has been a long time coming and maybe it has affected our form leading into it, but I don't accept that we won't be able to handle the pressure when kick-off time comes.

People are saying we're not used to playing in big games, but that's just not true.

Yes, it will be the first semi-final for a lot of the team and it'll probably be the biggest game I've played in, but people forget about 2006 when we had to win four of our last six games to stay in Super League.

Livelihoods were in the balance and we came through that, with many of the players who are still at the club.

The final game against Castleford, when whoever lost would be relegated, was a massive one and a high-pressure occasion and there was just as much – if not more – resting on it as there will be this week.

The thing about this week is we want to win for positive reasons. The prize at the end of it is a place at Wembley.

Not many people get to play there in their career so we will definitely be up for it.

We know Hull will be feeling the same way. They are a quality side with some very good players and they've got a couple of good wins behind them, against us and against Hull KR last week.

There were some areas that they exposed us in last time and we have got to try and nullify that on Sunday.

It is a huge challenge, but I believe if all our 17 players do the right things on the day we've got every chance of going through.

I think the first semi-final, between Leeds and Saints, is too close to call.