It has been nine years since Cougars centre Dan Potter last played in a Grand Final.

And the last time he had the experience was in 2000 when Dewsbury Rams beat Leigh Centurions 11-10 in the Northern Ford Premiership Grand Final at Gigg Lane, Bury; which was then the home of Swinton Lions.

Dan was a youngster in the Rams team that included current Cougars head coach Barry Eaton, who scored an early try and kicked a goal and current Hull FC boss Richard Agar, who scored the winning drop goal. 

“I don’t really remember anything of the build up but I do recall the game,” said York-based postman Potter.

“It was exciting I can recall that,” he said, “particularly the moment that Richard Agar kicked the winning drop goal”.

Although Potter, now 30 years old, doesn’t like the tag of being a veteran or admit to being ‘experienced’ he does say that he enjoys playing with the 2009 Cougars.

“This is the best set of lads I’ve played with in my career,” said Dan. “There are no inflated egos or big heads and we all get on with each other.

“They want to improve their games both as individuals and as a team.

“I’ve had two very happy years at Cougar Park and I’m hoping to have at least one more at the club”

As one of the new Cougar players to have any experience of appearing in a Final Dan was happy to pass on his experience to his teammates.

“At the end of the day, it’s just another game,” he said. “The only difference the season hangs on the result.

“But we’ve gained some useful experience as a team that should be valuable to us in a Grand Final context.

“We beat York by a point at Cougar Park and Oldham by two points at Boundary Park. They were tight situations and we had to stick together to see ourselves through.”

He concedes that Oldham’s play-off form has been impressive – they’ve beaten Swinton, Hunslet and York – on the way to the Grand Final and clocked up more than 120points on the way.

But Keighley are unbeaten in their last five games and that’s impressive by any standards. 

“Now I’m just looking forward to Sunday and helping some of the younger guys through the experience”.