Saints' reward for completing a hat-trick of Carnegie Challenge Cup triumphs is a three-day trip to Madrid which coach Daniel Anderson is hoping can freshen his team up for the engage Super League play-offs.

Anderson's men missed out on the double a year ago when they lost in the Grand Final to Leeds, but stand-off Leon Pryce is convinced they have a better chance of repeating their 2006 heroics this time.

"We are a lot better placed this year,'' he said. ''Last year was such a tough year mentally.

"We were shattered by the cup final and probably peaked in the (play-off) semi-final against Leeds.

"This year we are going to go away for three days to relax and I think there is a different determination."

It was Pryce who wrapped up Saints' 28-16 win over Hull at Wembley on Saturday with his first try in six cup final appearances.

Trailing only 10-0 at half-time despite being outplayed by the holders, Hull gave themselves hope of springing an upset with two converted tries, including an 80-metre interception, from centre Kirk Yeaman which briefly nudged them in front.

But Saints finished strongly in the searing heat and three tries in the last 15 minutes enabled them to complete their 12th cup win and leave Hull still looking for their first success at Wembley.

"It was a lot tougher than the previous ones,'' admitted St Helens scrum-half Sean Long.

"The first half was pretty mad and we couldn't put any plays on because it was just frantic at times.

"We bombed about three chances and, when they got the interception, I definitely thought it was not going to be our day. But when we went behind they went into their shell and played a bit more conservatively."

Saints, who returned to Knowsley Road with the trophy yesterday to a heroes' reception, will be back in training this morning to prepare for Friday's final game of the regular season against Wigan.

A 22nd successive win would ensure they finish top of the table for the third year in a row and give them the chance of taking the easier route to Old Trafford.

One man who will not be part of their play-off push is club captain Paul Sculthorpe, whose Wembley club debut proved to be his final match for St Helens.

The former Great Britain skipper, who turns 31 later this month, dislocated his shoulder just two minutes into Saturday's match and watched the rest of the action on television from the dressing room.
Sculthorpe, who was too upset to collect his winner's medal, is now facing an uncertain future in the game.

Told by Saints that his contract would not be renewed at the end of the season, his proposed move to Wakefield, where he hoped to link up with brother Danny, fell through last month and he had hoped an injury-free run to Old Trafford would attract new bidders.

Long, who admitted the latest injury setback had taken away some of the gloss from their Wembley triumph, spoke for his team-mates when he said: "It's been one thing after another for Scully and it's heart-breaking at times to see him struggling like this."