SAINTS centre Kevin Naiqama bounces into Friday's Grand Final with some confidence after grabbing a well-taken hat-trick in the semi-final win over Catalans.

The 31-year-old Fiji World Cup skipper capped his first season in Super League with a Old Trafford win over Salford 13 months ago.

Now he is looking to double his ring collection at Hull on Friday as Saints seek to become the first team to win back-to-back Grand Finals since Leeds retained the title in 2012.

The former Newcastle Knights, Penrith and Wests Tigers centre could not be happier, despite a tough year in a world and sport impacted by Covid.

"I'm loving it here," Naiqama said.

"It's gone so quickly. I couldn't have dreamed of a better first two seasons than playing in two GFs."

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Naiqama appreciates the contrast from last year's cacophony at the Theatre of Dreams to a behind closed doors at the KCOM Stadium will be stark, but insists it will not detract from the occasion.

"It's definitely different, for sure, that's just the new climate we're in," he said.

"You're having to adapt and do the best you can.

"Old Trafford is such an historical place and then taking the crowd out of it as well, it's definitely a mental challenge, you're creating that energy with your team.

"But it doesn't take away from the occasion, it's a Grand Final at the end of the day and they don't come around too often.

"I've been playing 12 or 13 years as a professional and this is only the second one I've been able to play in.

"It's not going to take away the excitement, I can tell you that. The boys are definitely excited and looking forward to this game."

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Saints suffered an 18-6 defeat by Wigan at the Totally Wicked Stadium in their last match of the regular season, which cost them the League Leaders Shield.

But Naiqama says they have learned their lessons from that day and will be motivated by the chance to redeem themselves.

"Wigan have been the top side all year," he said. "They showed that every week and they beat us here a couple of weeks ago.

"When someone beats you, you obviously want to play them again. You want another opportunity to challenge them, to sort of redeem yourself, and what better opportunity to do that than in a Grand Final?

"It was a tough, physical game and we know what we're going to get against them. They're going to come at us all guns blazing.

"For me personally and I think as a team collectively, you learn your biggest battles in your losses.

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"Obviously we would have wanted to win that game but we took a lot out of it. If anything, it builds some fire there.

"There's a lot of history and rivalry and also a lot of respect between the two teams.

"It's probably the biggest game in the calendar for rugby league here. You want to play in those big games.

"We've been the two top teams in the competition this year and at the end of the year that's what you want to see, the most consistent teams going at it."

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