England star Shona Hoyle has revealed the vital role she’ll play before Leeds Rhinos’ women run out to face St Helens at Wembley on Saturday.

Hoyle joined Rhinos in pre-season, having been a try scorer against them in last year’s Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup final when Leeds lost 22-8 to Saints. Her aggression and spirit have played a major part in them going into this weekend’s showpiece in much better form.

“I think it has been the right thing, me coming here,” the 30-year-old forward said. “It has given me a bit of oomph, especially when it comes to the aggression part on gameday. The girls have seen a massive difference in that because I get them all wound up.

“Hanna [Butcher, Rhinos’ captain] does her speech and then I get them going. I am the winder-upper, then we are already to go out, buzzed up and ready to smash it.”

Leeds Rhinos' former St Helens forward Shona Hoyle. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

placeholder image — Leeds Rhinos' former St Helens forward Shona Hoyle. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

There were fears a finger injury might keep Hoyle out of the big game, but she insisted: “I am well, I am fit and ready to play this weekend. I’ve had a few weeks out due to an injury, but Leeds have done very well with looking after me so I am raring to go and ready to win at Wembley. It was a broken knuckle; it is still a bit swollen, but there’s no pain which is nice.”

With Hoyle, who can play prop or in the back-row, restored to the side, Leeds will field a formidable pack on the big stage, including prop Izzy Northrop who scored five tries in last Saturday’s 68-0 demolition of Barrow Raiders. “She is so fit, fast and agile - and it’s the same with Zoe Hornby and Grace Field,” Hoyle said of her fellow forwards.

“Grace is the powerhouse in the middle who gets the shots on that get the team buzzing. Zoe is fast and agile and strong and Izzy is an absolute freak in the middle, she will get us on the front foot.”

Shona Hoyle on the attack for St Helens in last year's Challenge Cup final against Leeds Rhinos. Picture by Matthew Merrick/SWpix.com.

Born in Halifax, Hoyle played for Siddal, Featherstone Rovers, Bradford Bulls, Castleford Tigers and - briefly - Huddersfield Giants before joining Saints two years ago. She was a Woman of Steel nominee last season and is aiming for a third Challenge Cup winner’s medal, after being part of Bulls’ treble-winning side in 2017, alongside Leeds coach Lois Forsell and current teammate Amy Hardcastle.

Leeds were well-beaten in last year’s final after a disrupted start to the season, but Hoyle is confident it can be a different story this time. She recalled: “They had a couple of players - Georgia Roche and Fran Goldthorp - who went to the NRL and Georgia Hale returned there as well. They had a 13 in mind, but by the first game of the season they had to bring other players in.

“It is good we have had some consistency this year, we’ve got a full-strength team, a really good pack and wingers and centres who can finish off on the edges. We just need to work hard for each other.”

Victory on Saturday would see Hoyle make history as the first female player to win two finals at the national stadium. “My mindset is to win,” she stated. “We are not going to underestimate Saints, but it would be unbelievable and I’d be very proud.

Shona Hoyle, who missed the game because of injury, celebrates Leeds Rhinos' Challenge Cup semi-final victory over Wigan Warriors. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

“I am quite happy to play against Saints. It will be an emotional day, I’ve got a lot of respect for Saints and for the girls, but I am going there as a Leeds player. I am going there to win.”

As the only Wembley victor in Leeds’ camp, Hoyle knows what’s needed to win on the sport’s mnost iconic stage. “It takes resilience,” she said. “That’s the main thing and patience as well; don’t expect to score a try in the first half. The first 20-30 minutes is going to be a battle. What does success look like?

“Success would be finishing at their end, defending at their end and getting good pressure on the ball and ending positively. You have to have that mindset of ‘I want to defend’ and ‘you’re going to have to run at us now and you’re not going to like it’. That’s what we need to bring and we are ready for it.”

But Hoyle knows Leeds will need to be good to deny Saints a fourth successive Cup victory. The Merseyside outfit won 12-6 when the sides met in Betfred Women’s Super League two weeks ago, though the two tries were shared. “Saints won the game, but I felt Leeds won certain parts of it,” Hoyle, who didn’t play, reflected. “It was a battle. We had a few players out and we’ll have more depth and strength in the squad on Friday, so watch out.”