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Wilkin has a Cunning plan

Image: Wilkin: Looking to avoid a fourth straight Grand Final defeat

Jon Wilkin is determined to make sure that hooker Kieron Cunningham doesn't end his St Helens career on a losing note.

England international focused on being sharp for Wigan showdown

Jon Wilkin is determined to make sure this year that another modern day legend doesn't end their St Helens career on a losing note at Old Trafford. Wilkin's colleague Keiron Cunningham is hanging up his boots after the Grand Final showdown with arch-rivals Wigan on Saturday. It is a situation that Saints have faced before. In 2008 Paul Sculthorpe retired just weeks before the Grand Final defeat to Leeds, while last year the Rhinos denied Sean Long signing off in style before he moved on to Hull FC. As well as hooker Cunningham, St Helens will also be saying goodbye to current coach Mick Potter as he moves on to Bradford next year.

Big deal

Wilkin said: "We are trying to get good send-offs for everybody - we try to do that every year! "It will be Keiron and Mick this year and it is a big deal for us. "I think we are preparing well. Obviously we have had some experience of preparing for the Grand Final previously and we know what it takes to get into a good mindset going into the game. "We will do whatever it takes to be sharp and make sure we do the right things to put in a good performance on Saturday." The possibility of a fairytale finish for Cunningham, who scored the last try in the final competitive fixture to be played at Knowsley Road last Friday, has taken centre stage in the build-up to the big game. However Wilkin insists the players have been concentrating on other issues in their preparation after seeing a final place with victory over Huddersfield. "It is not our focus," he added. "Our focus coming into the game is to be well prepared and the game will take care of itself. "We can't speculate how it will go but we can do our best to prepare for it."
Huge achievement
Saints are hoping to avoid an unprecedented fourth successive Grand Final defeat, though they have lifted the trophy four times since 1999. However Wilkin insists just reaching the showpiece fixture is still a massive achievement, particularly as some players will go through their entire careers without getting to play in a final. "As a player you want to get to this game and it is a massive achievement to be here," the England international said. "To make the Grand Final is huge. "But some players go through their careers and never make a Grand Final, so I am very grateful to be given the opportunity to perform on this stage. "Obviously it is disappointing to lose but you are still massively proud of yourself for getting where you have."

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