Rugby League

Rugby-League.com

Challenge Cup

30 May 2022

In numbers | the Betfred Challenge Cup Final

In numbers | the Betfred Challenge Cup Final

Take a deeper dive into what it took for Wigan Warriors to claim Betfred Challenge Cup glory in a dramatic 16-14 win over Huddersfield Giants on Saturday, as the final was played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time.

It was Wigan's 20th success in the competition and first triumph since 2013.

Harry Smith starred for Wigan in the halves as he led the way with eight points courtesy of his first-half try and two goals. The 22-year-old England Academy graduate also recorded an assist, the crucial kick for Liam Marshall's match-winning try.

Marshall was one of three Wigan tryscorers, alongside Smith and star full back Jai Field, who shone with a game-leading seven tackle breaks and 155 metres.

Bevan French impressed with an assist - for Field in the second half - and also clocked an eye catching 185 metres from 18 carries.

But he wasn't Wigan's leading metre-maker on the day, that achievement went to John Bateman who made 186 metres from his 17 carries in an impressive 80-minute performance in the back row.

Elsewhere, young hooker Brad O'Neill started the match for Wigan, played 52 minutes and managed to chip in with an impressive 43 tackles, but Wigan's leading tackle maker was Morgan Smithies.

Smithies, the 21-year-old loose forward, played the full match and made a remarkable 61 tackles and only one miss in a crucial display for his side. He also recorded a try assist, offloading for Harry Smith's first-half try.

England star Liam Farrell was also on top form for the Warriors, making 39 tackles without a single miss and running 112 metres from 11 carries.

In the opposite camp, it was a heroic performance in defeat from a number of Huddersfield Giants stars.

For the second year in a row, it was a player on the losing side who collected the Lance Todd Trophy as Player of the Match in the form of Chris McQueen.

The 34-year-old Brisbane-born second-row, who collected one cap for England back in 2017, caught the eye of the Rugby League Writers Association members with a try in the first half, a line break and 35 tackles. He also ran more decoys than any other player on the pitch, with 14.

Huddersfield's other points on the day all came from or were assisted by backs. Tui Lolohea only kicked one goal in an off-day with the boot, but did chip in with two try assists for his side from full back.

The Giants bagged the first try of the game through Ricky Leutele, the impressive centre also led the way with 224 metres from 19 carries, more than any other player on the pitch, and five tackle breaks.

Fellow centre Leroy Cudjoe also impressed as he recorded 210 running metres from 19 carries. He also got an assist to his name as his slick one-handed offload sent Jermaine McGillvary over for a try mid-way through the second half.

McGillvary proved to be Huddersfield's last point-scorer of the game - the winger made his mark with 172 metres from 17 carries in the final.

Other impressive performers for Huddersfield included Josh Jones, who made 152 metres from 14 carries, and Danny Levi who was the Giants' top-tackler with 40.

Chris Hill's game was cut short by injury after just 20 minutes but the prop was on fire during his time on the pitch - he made 100 metres from just eight carries. He had also already clocked nine tackles and six decoy runs before he limped off with a leg injury.

Lance Todd Trophy voting

Chris McQueen, 14 

Ricky Leutele, 9

Oliver Russell, 6

Tui Lolohea, 5

Jermaine McGillvary, 2

Harry Smith, 2

Daniel Levi, 1