THE Wembley weekend was a new experience for me this year but also very familiar.

I walked Wembley Way before a Challenge Cup Final – the first time I have done that since being a young, naive and hopeful child.

There were many differences between my experience as a 12-year-old and that of a man in his late 20s.

The main difference being I wasn't jeered by other fans when I was 12, although the tracksuit and basin haircut my mum inflicted on me may have drawn a few laughs.

Despite all the differences, the most amazing thing was the same feeling I felt back then in the pit of my stomach which is excitement and hope.

It is that excitement that inspired me and a reminder that the big games are all about that anticipation and enjoyment from the fans.

For 10 years I have climbed on to a bus, got to big games and some of our country’s finest stadiums , walked straight into the changing rooms by-passing that atmosphere outside the ground and forgetting that feeling.

I was fortunate to sample that atmosphere once more as a fan of the game and it reminded me what I love about Rugby. The last 10 years of a career has been a by product of that love.

It seems strange having the Challenge Cup final so close to the end of the season but just two weeks after Wembley the playoffs start.

I honestly believe it is bad timing on behalf of the game. We have a window of opportunity to get the Challenge Cup maximum exposure and we plonk it at the start of the Premier League football season a month from the Super League Grand Final.

Granted this year scheduling would have been difficult due to the Olympics.

I don't know about anyone else but I would love to explore the feasibility of moving the game forward in the calendar if only by a month or so.

Nevertheless, the run into the end of the season is always exciting, you can tell it is getting close to the Grand Final as the grey clouds have rolled in and I sit writing this through a haze of drizzle that shall consume our country until March next year.

Admittedly I think we forget to inform our new signings from the southern hemisphere this in the sales pitch but to quote Matt Gidley, "Let’s say goodbye to the old golden ball for another three months."

The play-offs are consistently played in different conditions to that of most of the season.

In the next few weeks I think the most important thing for us as a team is to prepare to play in a style that wins the big games in October not May, June and July.

The end of season conditions make field position so much more important and our play needs to reflect how much we are willing to dominate territory, sacrifice individual energy for the team and win games whatever it takes.

The play-offs are about constricting your opponents and as soon as they relax tighten your grip until they submit.

This may well be in the last minute of the game but playing in this way is how teams have won big games for a number of years.

This week we had a little training trip to Formby beach, the trip was less focused on beach towels, sun cream and BBQs but more centred on sweat, tears, vomit and near vertical sand dunes that nature ever so kindly crafted.

The theme of the training session was pain and Matt Daniels was masochistic leader of proceedings. We did have a few players nearly pass out and at one stage a player, who I won’t name was nearly hospitalised and had to be placed on oxygen, thankfully Wello has recovered now.

Playing rugby is an amazing job but few people see how hard we work and despite mood, weather or motivation working that hard is a daily requirement for our job.

The day out at ‘the beach’ has been good preparation for this week’s game. London will be full of confidence following an astonishing performance against the Wire.

They have quality throughout their team and it looks like that cream is rising to the top in the closing moments of this season.

On the testimonial front, anyone wanting tickets for the Johnny Vegas night can get them from the club ticket office at £15 this match day.

The Question of Sport dinner, which is coming up shortly, has been sponsored by GPW recruitment - a big business in St Helens who have supported the club and myself throughout my career.

So, thanks to Graham Worsley and Mark Parish.

Viewing tables for the night are available at £30 per head where you can take part in the quiz hosted by Clare Balding without the food and other VIP perks of the more expensive tables. Only very few places available so contact info@jonwilkin.co.uk to book a place.