Former Hull KR prop Scott Taylor admits next year will be twice as hard as his first double-winning season with Wigan Warriors. As debut seasons go, Taylor couldn't have dreamed of a better one, having won the Challenge Cup and Grand Final after swapping Craven Park for the DW Stadium.
But the 22-year-old knows the hard work put in to secure the silverware was nothing compared to what it's going to take to retain them next year as every team sets their sights on toppling Shaun Wane's all-conquering side.
"My pre-season starts on Monday and I know next season is going to be twice as hard as it was last season," Taylor told the Mail.
"We have the World Club Championship against Sydney Roosters in February which is almost certainly going to be held in Australia.
"We know we will fly out there as underdogs but we know we can win it too.
"Shaun wants to win everything. He was disappointed to only win two trophies last season, whereas most teams would say winning the Challenge Cup and finishing in the top four would be a good season.
"Next season, I'm sure he will want us to win all four trophies because he is such a perfectionist and nothing else will do.
"We certainly have the squad to do it."
This time last year, the Warriors had trimmed key play-makers Brett Finch and Thomas Leuluai from their squad and only brought in two from Hull KR, Taylor and team-mate Blake Green.
Green slotted in seamlessly alongside Matty Smith at half-back, with Smith being named man-of-the-match in the Challenge Cup final and Green picking up the Harry Sunderland award for his performance in the Grand Final.
When Taylor first arrived, Wane told him he might not see much action in the first season of his three-year deal.
But that changed after the former Skirlaugh Bulls prop made an immediate impact with 95 metres from 10 carries in the season opener at Salford.
"I didn't feel any pressure because I knew my game would be good enough when I did get my chance," said Taylor.
"Shaun said he didn't expect too much from me in my first season, but injuries meant I got my chance straight away.
"I played in the 42-0 win at Salford and afterwards I couldn't believe I'd made my debut for Wigan.
"Playing in that win gave me a lot of confidence and things went on from there. I was so happy and proud, but I had my sister's wedding the very next day at 10am so I had to get straight back for that.
"On the way back, the M62 was closed and I didn't get to Hull until 3am. Luckily, I still got to the wedding in time, even though I was shattered!"
A continued spell in the first team proved to Taylor he was good enough to play for a side steeped in history and glory. But even as the Warriors progressed to the cup final, he refused to take anything for granted.
Fortunately, a 16-0 win over Hull FC left Wigan fans dancing in the rain at Wembley and had Taylor and his team-mates dreaming of a double.
And although some felt Wane's men had peaked too soon, Taylor knew there was plenty left in the tank for the remainder of the season.
"A Super League and Challenge Cup double hasn't been achieved too often," he adds, taking up the story of the season's run-in.
"After the Wembley win, our form dropped off a bit and we were written off by almost everybody.
"But we knew when it came to knock-out matches our record spoke for itself.
"We had won five from five to win the Challenge Cup and knew we could win three games in the play-offs.
"Going to Huddersfield first up was tough but we knew they didn't have a great record in the play-offs and we won that one. Then we managed to get a roll on and beat Leeds.
"Suddenly, just six weeks after winning the cup, I was playing in the Grand Final at Old Trafford.
"In the week leading up to the game, I was just trying not to get injured.
"The feeling of nerves I experienced at Wembley will never be repeated, but what I felt at Old Trafford certainly ran it close."
