ANDY Lynch has told his Hull FC team-mates they must forget about their Wembley heartache and focus on making amends in the play-offs.
Having produced arguably their worst display of the season when losing the Challenge Cup final 16-0 against Wigan, the Black and Whites must pick themselves up quickly if they don't want their season to fizzle out.
Whilst Lynch was "disappointed" to suffer defeat in the first major final of his career, he knows a win at the Warriors on Friday night is the only way to avoid suffering from an end-of-season hangover.
"It is disappointing to lose in a Challenge Cup final, but we need to learn from it," said the 33-year-old.
"We're in the top eight and we need to show our determination from now to the end of the season.
"I know it's not going to be any consolation for the performance we put in, but a win at Wigan would put us in good stead ahead of the play-offs.
"It hurts to lose a Challenge Cup final, but there's no better way of getting over that than by going to Wigan on Friday night and winning.
"We need to bounce back and we can't afford to rest on our laurels just because we've lost the cup final.
"The hard work needs to start again now."
Having failed to make any real impact at on the Wembley final, as Hull suffocated under the weight of Wigan's pressure and their own errors, Lynch will want to make amends at the DW Stadium on Friday.
Facing a Wigan side buoyed by their cup success, Hull will again travel as underdogs for their penultimate game of the regular season.
But with the possibility of a home play-off tie still up for grabs, Lynch knows what must be done to get the two points.
"It's a quick turnaround, but we need to execute our game plan and do what we didn't do at Wembley," explained the Hull prop.
"It's a great occasion to play in a big final, but the fact is we lost.
"We need to get back on the horse and perform again from now until the end of the play-offs.
"Hopefully, if we can do that we end up in the Grand Final at end of the year.
"As players, that's what we have to focus on. Playing well and winning games."
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