Hometown Halifax star relishing the chance to appear on a big stage.
For Halifax Panthers three-quarter Zack McComb, representing the club at Wembley means everything to him and his family.
McComb - who started his career in Huddersfield’s academy before spells at Oldham and Sheffield - will run out for his hometown club having come through the ranks at local amateurs Siddal.
He grew up being taken to the terraces of the Shay and mum Bernie will be among a host of proud families members cheering on McComb and the Panthers today.
“My family absolutely love it - my brother, mum, niece, nephew and partner come every week,” McComb explains.
“Because we all live close by they really buy into it and have that connection, and they follow us up and down the country.
“My mum has been by biggest supporter. I’m 27 now and I’d probably say the Super League dream has gone by me, although it’s certainly something I’d still be interested in if it was put in front of me,
“But mum still tells me she thinks I’ll get to Super League all the time. She’s really proud that I’ll be playing at Wembley for Halifax and there’s a lot of emotion there.
“As a group we’re very tight knit as a group and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved so far.”
That closeness helped the Panthers battle their way through a nail-biting AB Sundecks 1895 Cup semi-final at London Broncos, where the teams were locked together at 0-0 at half-time.
“Out of the teams left in the competition I don’t think anybody wanted to draw London away, because they were going well and have signed some big name players recently,” McComb says.
“Unfortunately we drew them out but we went down the night before and prepped well for it.
“It was 0-0 at half-time and a bit nerve-wracking - we kicked a couple of penalties and then Lachlan Walmsley came up with a massive play, like he’s been doing all season, and scored a long-range interception try.
“That took us just far enough away when they came back and scored in the 77th minute, and to hear that final hooter and know that we’re going to Wembley was just surreal. Even now I get goosebumps thinking about that.”
McComb and his Panthers teammates didn’t shy away from discussing the possibility of playing at Wembley in the build-up to the Broncos clash.
“It was a major talking point - that was the goal, to get to Wembley and achieve something great,” he confirms.
“The club hadn’t been there for over 30 years and we spoke about taking the fans and players back there and what an awesome possibility that would be for everyone.
“The 1895 Cup is brilliant, it gives players at this level the opportunity to do something big.
“I know Fax got to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup a few years ago, but at some point on the road you’re going to draw a big club like Saints and there isn’t really that possibility of making the final.
“I still know a lot of the Sheffield Eagles lads that played against Widnes in the 1895 Cup final at they all said that it’s a memory that they’ll keep forever. It’s something that we put down as one of our goals at the start of the year and it’s a massive opportunity in front of us now.”
If they needed it, McComb and his teammates have added motivation to triumph today - sending coach Simon Grix out on a high after he announced he will leave the club at the end of the season.
“He’s been at the club for many years now after starting as assistant and then becoming head coach, and he’s been great for me individually and the team,” McComb says.
“We finished third two seasons in a row and although we’ve not kicked on from that this season that’s not a reflection on him but us as players - we’ve had too many individual errors all year.
“He’s been doing everything he can and hopefully we can send him out on a high.”
To do that, Halifax will have to beat a Bulldogs side that turned them over 42-0 at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium just a matter of weeks ago.
“Since I’ve moved here Batley have become one of the top two or three sides in the competition, they’re just so consistent and never go away,” McComb adds.
“They’re a team that keeps fighting to the final whistle and are a very good side.
“It’s always a tough battle and I wouldn’t like to take anything away from that last game, it was just one of those days for us.
“Batley-Halifax matches are usually just a few points between us - they’re keenly contested and aggressive and it should be another cracker at Wembley.”
This article is taken from the official Betfred Challenge Cup Finals programme, which includes the 1895 Cup - the programme can be purchased online here.
Tickets for this weekend's showpiece finals day at Wembley are available until kick-off via Rugby League Tickets.
