BEFORE this year, the recent past at Warrington Wolves has not featured too much to smile about.

However, one of the undoubted bright spots has been the signing, impact and development of a man who has become one of Super League’s premier wingers.

The prospect of Matty Ashton scorching across the Wembley turf is a mouthwatering one and you feel if he gets to do that a certain number of times, The Wire will be the ones holding the Challenge Cup come Saturday evening.

Personal accolades have come thick and fast for the 25-year-old, who has picked up the club’s Player of the Year award for the past two seasons, but it is the big prizes he is clearly hungry for if for no other reason than to reward the club’s fans for sticking with them through a torrid period.

“I’ve been working really hard on myself and I know a lot of the lads have too,” he told the Guardian.

“You’ve got to take the good days with the bad and we’ve had some real low points as a squad.

“I’m glad I’ve learnt from it now and I feel like the only way is up for this club and I want to be a part of it.

“The fans are so supportive and turn up no matter what. They work hard day in and day out to come and watch us on a weekend.

“It’s about time we gave them this kind of day out but we want to give them some silverware now.

“They’ve stuck by us through thick and thin. They deserve this more than us.”

Ashton agreed to join Warrington from Swinton Lions just after their last cup final appearance in 2019, with the closest they have come during his time at The Halliwell Jones Stadium before now being semi-final defeats in 2020 and 2021.

As such, the buzz and excitement of “Wembley Week” is all new to him and it is clear he is trying to take in as much as he can ahead of what he admits will be “the biggest day of his life.”

“It’s all new to me so I will learn a lot of lessons this week,” he said,

“I’ve been told about how big and enjoyable a week it is, so I’m just taking it in and trying to enjoy every day.

“As long as I’m physically and mentally ready by Saturday, I’ll be in a good place.

“I’ve been a couple of times for Challenge Cup Finals but I’ve never been on the pitch or even at pitchside.

“It’s going to be a dream come true – the biggest day of my life for sure.”

Warrington Guardian: Ashton's sensational, gravity-defying try against St Helens is among the highlights of Wire's run to WembleyAshton's sensational, gravity-defying try against St Helens is among the highlights of Wire's run to Wembley (Image: PA Wire)

And like many players, Ashton looks set to be supported by scores of family and friends on the big day but he insists he hasn’t let the pre-Wembley admin distract him.

“It’s not been too bad, to be honest,” he says.

“We’ve got a professional mentality – I know its cliché but we have to just take it game-by-game.

“There’s so many challenges throughout a season so what your coaches are telling you to focus on, you have to focus on.

“Obviously, it’s at the back of your mind – it’s a massive occasion and there’s things to sort out off the field for it – but as it gets closer, it builds up and now, it’s all about Wembley.

“I think I’ve had between 20 and 30 ticket requests. I’ve been mithered by plenty more but you’ve got to keep it within your family and close friends, which is always special.

“I think they’re more excited than I am, which is crazy but it’s a week we’ve got to cherish.”

Before we finish, Ashton was keen to pick up on something teammate Matt Dufty revealed ahead of the semi-final victory over Huddersfield Giants – a desire to change some of the décor around the club’s training ground.

For now, a picture of the 2019 Challenge Cup winners looms large and after years of it staring at him on a daily basis, there is motivation to make sure there is an update in the offing.

“It kind of winds me up a little bit, I’m not going to lie. The ones who aren’t in that picture wish they were,” he said.

“I’ve been here for four years now looking at that picture and I want to make my own history with this club.

“That’s what I’m dying to do. It’s not happened just yet but I’m desperate for it.

“I agreed to sign just after that – I knew the expectation of the club coming here and we’ve not been to a final yet since I’ve been here.

“Now, we want to change that picture.”