SATURDAY's Wembley final was not about luck - it was simply a case of the better side winning.

That was the opinion of Shaun McRae on the Challenge Cup showdown which he amplified at our weekly face-to-face on Tuesday afternoon.

WHITTLE: It's a cliche, maybe, but don't you think it was a game of contrasting halves laced with controversial decisions?

McRAE: Dealing with your first point I have to say that Bradford held most of the aces in the opening 40 minutes, when Saints' poor ball control resulted in six turnovers and our choice of options also left something to be desired. So I was obviously relieved to change ends 16-10 to the good because the psychological timing by Karle Hammond could not have been better. Some people have asked me about the Bobbie Goulding-Tommy Martyn kick-through understanding and I have assured them that is exactly what it is, because the move is well rehearsed and there is certainly no fluke about it. As for 'decisions' let me say here and now that, on reflection, Anthony Sullivan's touchdown was not a try, but in deference to referee Stuart Cummings I believe he was unsighted and was guided by the in-goal official. However, on the other side of the coin, I am convinced that James Lowes obstructed Danny Arnold before Glen Tomlinson scored while, after studying the video, referees' director Greg McCallum has ruled that Martyn has no case to answer for his challenge on Abi Ekoku. But Greg is of the opinion that the award of a penalty was justified, although I know that Saints' fans saw Tommy's tackle as a good old-fashioned 'Cumberland throw' and that Chris Morley was denied what they thought was a valid try. Bulls' supporters might argue that Stuart Spruce touched down in the second minute, so really Saturday's game was very much a case of swings and roundabouts and I remain adamant that justice was done and, more importantly, was seen to be done.

WHITTLE: In view of all these 'ifs' and 'buts' don't you think there is a good case for a video referee at Wembley?

McRAE: I would go further than that and say the facility should be in place at all Super League matches, after all it is used at the Friday night and Sunday games on Sky, which is a third of the total programme. I am aware there is a cost factor involved so why not have the video referee in modified form, without necessarily having the screen in the public domain. The grapevine tells me that Maurice Lindsay has plans to look at the whole problem in time for next season. WHITTLE: When were the 'to be or not to be' decisions made on Alan Hunte and Derek McVey regarding their appearances at Wembley?

McRAE: Alan was ruled out on Saturday morning which meant Andy Haigh, who had been on standby all week, got his big chance and took it well. As for Derek it was always my intention to play him from the start and I was happy with his input, as I was with his replacement Chris Morley. However, things sometimes happen over which a coach has no control such as the knocks sustained by Julian O'Neill and Apollo Perelini, and although it was my intention to bring them back later there was no real opportunity to do so because Ian Pickavance and Andy Northey were going so well.

WHITTLE: What did you think of the Wembley home-coming and those fantastic Saints' supporters?

McRAE: Unlike you, words fail me beyond beyond adding that we have nothing quite like it in Australia, while the team said it all with their unique 'you are the best' streamer which they displayed after the Cup had been presented. On behalf of the players I would like to thank David Howes and his staff and the local authority for their master-stroke in switching the celebrations to Knowsley Road, but most of all to the supporters, for turning up in such numbers.

WHITTLE: With two Wembley appearances now under your belt, what are your impressions of the stadium?

McRAE: Making Wembley an all-seater arena was obviously a step in the right direction, but I also believe the proposed face-lift is timely, particularly in view of the fact that the stadium was first used as long ago as 1923. I'm told that work on this will start at the end of the next soccer season and Twickenham and Murrayfield have been mentioned as possible alternatives for the Rugby League Cup Final. A final personal thought on Wembley is that while the old place has a definite aura about it, a full house such as on Saturday helps to create that atmosphere.

WHITTLE: Bradford to be faced again on Sunday, but this time at inhospitable Odsal. An action replay you would not have chosen, with Wembley still fresh in mind no doubt?

McRAE: This unfortunate follow-up is a real four-pointer in the Super League stakes, more so with the Bulls being two ahead of Saints. Bradford will be really 'up' for this game after what happened at Wembley, but so will Saints after a 50-point hiding last season.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.