Welham on confidence in squad and career milestone

02/04/2022

Ahead of facing Betfred Championship table-toppers Featherstone Rovers tomorrow, Sheffield Eagles centre Kris Welham insists the squad are full of confidence despite their Challenge Cup exit last Sunday.

Super League’s Hull FC saw off the Championship side to progress into the quarter-finals of the competition with a 12-58 victory at The Millennium Stadium.

Reflecting on the Eagles’ first defeat in five matches, Welham admitted how tough the test was against a full-strength Super League side.

“It was a tough game, it was what we expected it to be against a good Super League side but I think we did pretty well,” he said.

“The scoreline didn’t show how close it was, we had a lot of chances and caused them a lot of problems but ultimately they were just too big and too strong and a better side than us on the day.

“As much as we lost out at the weekend, the boys are still confident and we can’t wait for the weekend against another tough side.”

Welham, a Hull Kingston Rovers standout for nine years, enjoyed the light-hearted rivalry exchanged with the Hull fans throughout the contest and was pleased to get over for a consolation try in front of the Old Faithful in the second half.

“It’s always nice to score against them, being a Hull lad myself and having played for the east side of Hull,” Welham added.

“There’s that nice bit of banter and rivalry between us and it started off as soon as Hull FC scored their first try and I was standing behind the posts in front of them.

“They were giving it to me constantly, so it was nice to pop over in the second half just to give a little bit back.”

The Eagles return to the Millennium Stadium this weekend to face league leaders Featherstone Rovers, another former club of Welham’s and the centre is expecting another challenge: “It’s going to be just as tough as the Hull FC game, Featherstone are flying,” . 

“They have Super League quality players throughout their team and they haven’t lost in the league so far this year.

“Going to their place will be tough, but we just need to work hard, play to our standards and we should give them a very good go.”

A spot in the Sheffield lineup would see Welham make his 350th career appearance against his former employers.

The 35-year-old spoke about passing the landmark and what it would mean to him: “It’s been a long journey from where I started in 2006 but I’ve loved every minute and I can’t thank rugby league for what it's given me and for what I’ve been able to do in the game,”

“To go and do it at the weekend with the Sheffield boys will be something special for me and even better if we can get the win.”

By Lewis Coleman, photo by Alex Coleman