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Tetley's Challenge Cup final: Tigers' Weller Hauraki cannot wait to take on the Rhinos

Castleford Tigers' back-row Weller Hauraki is relishing the prospect of taking on former club Leeds Rhinos in Saturday's Challenge Cup final at Wembley.

The former Rhino was released by the Headingley club at the end of the 2012, a decision which allowed him to seal to move to Super League rivals Castleford.

I wouldn’t want to play any other team than Leeds in the final.
Weller Hauraki

Hauraki played in the 2012 final loss for Leeds against Warrington (35-18), 12 months after missing out on their 17-man squad which lost to Wigan Warriors 28-18.

Hauraki's excellent form has earned a move for Salford Red Devils for the 2015, but for now the 29-year-old New Zealander is focused on taking down his former team-mates in the capital.

Over the moon

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"I played against Warrington in 2012 and I was in the squad against Wigan (in 2011), but I didn't play in that one," Hauraki told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

"I am over the moon to be going back and I'm really looking forward to the opportunity again to play at Wembley.

"These chances don’t come around very often and all of the boys are looking forward to the game. All the Cas boys were talking at the start of the year and they were saying they only dream of things like this.

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"Now the dream has come true for some of these boys and we're just looking forward to the final. I wouldn't want to play any other team than Leeds in the final."

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