Leeds Kiwi Willie Poching is flying his father Eddie over for the final. But fellow New Zealander Shontayne Hape's folks will not be coming - the defeat to St Helens on the opening day of the season put the kybosh on that.

Having watched their son's debut in that game on the box they decided that the Bulls probably wouldn't make it to Cardiff this year so didn't plan the trip.

Next year's journey to Britain is already in the pipeline. The Bulls' form since the February defeat has already inspired them with enough confidence about their son's choice of employee that they want to be here for his second Challenge Cup final in 2004.

But Hape, whose impact in Super League and the Powergen cup competition has been as phenomenal as his parent's lack of faith, doesn't mind their non-attendance.

In his few months at the Bulls he has realised he will be playing in a lot of finals in his two-year (minimum) stint at the club, so they can come another time for one the many impending special occasions.

So instead it will just be his girlfriend and a few other rugby-playing Kiwis whose sides didn't make it through the early rounds that will be taking up his allocation in the Millennium Stadium stands.

His folks, no doubt, will be glued to their television sets back home watching to see if their progeny can get over the whitewash to seal a score in every round of the competition.

He crowned his first competitive game for the club with a try against Warrington in the fourth round.

And in the semi-final at the McAlpine Stadium his dive over in the corner sparked the second-half blitz that sealed victory over Wigan - and set-up the trip to Wales. A game he cannot wait for.

"This is why I came to the club," said Hape, who joined Bradford after a year out with a knee injury on the books of the New Zealand Warriors.

"When I came here it is because I was wanted to make my mark in world rugby and it is games like this that allow me to do it.

"This is going to be the biggest game I have every played in. I can't even begin to imagine what 74,000 people in the stands is going to be like.

"The biggest game I have played in is probably a semi-final with the Warriors against Parramatta, but this is going to be three times that.

"But this is what I want. Being a Bradford player is all about the big games and this is an opportunity to do my stuff."

Since joining the club, Hape has yet to hit fifth gear, although he has certainly acheived fourth on a number of occasions, particularly with his exuberant and extravagant off-loads.

He has gone over his head, round the back, out the sides, and even managed a couple of passes during full-length dives.

But sometimes he has tried a little too hard, giving the ball away when it would have been better to keep hold and complete the tackle.

He is young, and he is still learning, and there is plenty of improvement in his game still to come, something he is the first to recognise.

"I know I can play better," said Hape, whose partnership on the left-wing with Lesley Vainikolo has exceeded all expectations.

"I have learnt a lot in my four months here but there is still a lot more I can do. I have been playing well, but only in patches and I know I can offer more."

One thing that has stifled the former Junior Kiwi is the different style of play in Super League.

Although he believes the competition is as tough as the NRL he has grown up in, he feels that there is more freedom on offer Down Under.

"I think they play with more flair out there," he continued.

"They toss the ball about a bit more then they do here. I just have to learn to adjust to the system here, where there is a lot more structure.

"Of course there are still opportunities to throw the ball around, but I think I need to be more selective when I do it.

Despite his relatively short time in this country he is well aware of the importance of the Challenge Cup.

"This is the biggest knock-out competition in the world. The other lads reckon this is the best competition to play in and I think I realised that against Widnes in the quarter-final."