Either Castleford Tigers or St Helens will end a painful wait for Betfred Challenge Cup glory this Saturday at Wembley Stadium.
St Helens are the competition’s third most successful side with 12 Challenge Cup Final victories but haven’t lifted the famous trophy since a 2008 victory over Hull FC.
As for Castleford, they are looking to end a 35-year wait to lift the coveted title. The Tigers memorably last won the Challenge Cup with a 15-14 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers back in May 1986.
Kristian Woolf’s side booked their place in this year’s showpiece event following a hard-fought 18-33 Semi-Final victory over Hull FC. A late Regan Grace interception – which sealed a double for the Welshman – confirmed a Wembley berth for the Saints.
St Helens’ route to Wembley begun with a 26-18 win against Leeds Rhinos back in April before a 23-18 defeat of Huddersfield Giants in the last eight.
Daryl Powell’s quest for Cup glory in his final season as Castleford Head Coach started with a dramatic 32-33 win at Hull Kingston Rovers, with Gareth O’Brien’s Golden Point drop-goal proving the difference between the sides. O’Brien would repeat the feat a month later as the Tigers saw off 2020 finalists Salford Red Devils in Golden Point Extra-Time.
The Tigers didn’t need additional time to beat Warrington Wolves at Leigh Sports Village however, earning a 35-20 victory and confirming a first Wembley trip since 2014.
St Helens have been victorious in each of their last four league outings, but this does include a 0-24 win over the Tigers which was cancelled. The Saints have beaten Wigan Warriors and Wakefield Trinity in recent weeks meaning they head into this year’s Final in great form.
Castleford come into this weekend’s clash on the back of consecutive league losses against Catalans Dragons and, most recently, Salford Red Devils. However, the 18-70 loss to the Red Devils saw a much-changed Tigers outfit take to the field at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle.
Head Coach Powell was in charge the last time Castleford made it Wembley suffering a 10-23 loss to Leeds Rhinos. Oliver Holmes – who is named in Powell’s squad for Saturday – was a try-scorer that day alongside Daryl Clark.
St Helens’ most-recent Wembley appearance came in 2019. Under the stewardship of Justin Holbrook, Saints went into the game as favourites but failed to beat Warrington Wolves, with Theo Fages notching Saints’ only points of the game.
Regan Grace is the competition’s top try-scorer in 2021 having notched seven tries in three games – doubles against Leeds and Hull FC either side of a hat-trick versus Huddersfield.
Jordan Turner sits atop the Betfred Challenge Cup try-scoring ranks for Castleford with four, bolstered by his hat-trick scoring performance against Warrington in the Semi-Finals. Hooker Paul McShane has three tries to his name and provided a crucial assist for Turner to take their opening game against Hull KR to extra-time.
James Roby is the only member of the St Helens squad to have lifted the Challenge Cup doing so on three consecutive occasions with the Saints between 2006 and 2008. Liam Watts is the only player in the Castleford side to have lifted the Challenge Cup having twice done so with Hull FC in 2016 and 2017.
Oliver Holmes and Nathan Massey both featured in Castleford’s last Wembley appearance in 2014 while Niall Evalds could play his second consecutive final having represented Salford Red Devils in 2020.
Kyle Amor, Lachlan Coote, Theo Fages, Regan Grace, Morgan Knowles, Jonny Lomax, Tommy Makinson, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Kevin Naiqama, Mark Percival and Alex Walmsley were all losing finalists in 2019.
Squads:
Castleford Tigers: Niall Evalds, Derrell Olpherts, Peter Mata’utia, Michael Shenton, Jake Trueman, Danny Richardson, Liam Watts, Paul McShane, Grant Millington, Oliver Holmes, Cheyse Blair, Adam Milner, Nathan Massey, George Griffin, Alex Foster, James Clare, Jesse Sene-Lefao, Daniel Smith, Suaia Matagi, Jordan Turner, Gareth O’Brien.
St Helens: Lachlan Coote, Tommy Makinson, Kevin Naiqama, Mark Percival, Regan Grace, Jonny Lomax, Theo Fages, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Joel Thompson, Morgan Knowles, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Kyle Amor, Agnatius Paasi, Jack Welsby, Aaron Smith, Joe Batchelor, Lewis Dodd, Josh Simm, Dan Norman.
Challenge Cup Final History:
St Helens:
Wins: 12 (1956, 1961, 1966, 1972, 1976, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Losses: 10 (1897, 1915, 1930, 1953, 1978, 1987, 1989, 1991, 2002, 2019)
Castleford Tigers:
Wins: 4 (1935, 1969, 1970, 1986)
Losses: 2 (1992, 2014)
Previous Lance Todd Winners:
St Helens: Alan Prescott (1956), Dick Huddart (1961), Len Killeen (1966), Kel Coslett (1972), Geoff Pimblett (1976), Tommy Martyn (1997), Sean Long (2001, 2004, 2006), Paul Wellens (2007*, 2008), Leon Pryce (2007*)
Castleford Tigers: Mal Reilly (1969), Bill Kirkbride (1970), Bob Beardmore (1986)
