Leeds Rhinos v Castleford Tigers: Booth hoping hard work will be rewarded in Cup finale
Booth is aiming to get her hands on the trophy for a second successive year after being a member of Bradford Bullsâ triumphant 2017 side.
She knows what it takes to win the most prestigious knockout competition in the womenâs game, but â though Rhinos will start as clear favourites â Booth insists Castleford pose a real threat.
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Hide AdâOn paper we are the favourites, but we are new to Super League and Cas have had a few years building,â Booth warned ahead of the showpiece at Warringtonâs HJ Stadium (3pm).
âWeâre just happy to be there; itâs our first time in Super League and first time in a cup final and weâre happy to be part of it and do what we can do.
âWeâve put a lot of hard work in this year and hopefully that will be rewarded.â
Rhinos have lost only one of their 11 competitive games this term, but have gone almost a month without a game.
âTraining has been intense, as always,â Booth reported.
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Hide AdâAs far as not getting the minutes in, ideally we would have carried on playing, but a break always does you a bit of good.
âWeâve been training really hard and itâs as intense, if not more than, a game.
âWhen youâre going into a game after training with Adam [Cuthbertson, Rhinosâ coach] it is almost a bit more relaxed.â
Booth, a winger or full-back, is one of Rhinosâ leading lights.
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Hide AdShe played for England in the 2017 World Cup in Australia and won the student sport individual honour at this yearâs Leeds Sports Awards.
Booth was also the first female rugby league player to be supported by the Sport England-funded Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS).
Her involvement in rugby league began with Guiseley Storm before she joined Bradford and then moved to Leeds when the club was formed last autumn.
Even so, today will be one of the biggest afternoons of her playing career.
Booth said: âWeâre really looking forward to it.
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Hide AdâWhen I won it with Bradford last year it was special, it was the first silverware Iâd won. The Challenge Cup was definitely mentioned when we set our pre-season targets.
âEveryone wants to be part of it, the backroom staff, the coaches, the physios and the players.
âThe girls, especially the younger ones, are looking forward to getting some experience by playing at Warrington. They want to get out there and see how they cope with playing at a venue like that.â
Halliwell-Jones Stadium was a controversial choice for a finals day featuring four West Yorkshire teams. Leeds side Stanningley play Bradford in the Shield final, kicking off two hours before the main game, but Booth is relishing the opportunity to play on a big stage.
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