Leeds Rhinos, St Helens, Wigan Warriors and York Valkyrie this weekend find themselves just 80 minutes away from contesting the first Women’s Challenge Cup Final to be held at Wembley Stadium (Saturday 12 August).
Saturday’s (22 July) semi-final at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium (KO 11.45am) is a mouthwatering clash between the holders St Helens and Betfred Women’s Super League (BWSL) leaders York Valkyrie.
And what a difference a few years can make!
When these two sides met in the 2021 final at Leigh Sports Village, York were just beginning their development under new coach Lindsay Anfield and went into the game as heavy underdogs against a Saints side that hadn’t lost all year. Fast-forward two years and the Valkyrie have gone from strength to strength, picking up the League Leaders shield in 2022 and riding high in the BWSL again this season with only a single point dropped in their draw with Leeds Rhinos over the weekend.
Although they have already beaten Saints earlier this season, York fullback Sade Rihari isn’t underestimating her opponents. Speaking alongside St Helens captain, Jodie Cunnigham, at the Halliwell Jones on Monday, she explained: “They’ve improved so much this season. They have Faye Gaskin back and they’ve brought in the likes of Erin Stott and Phoebe Hook who have that x-factor on the edges. We have to focus on our own roles on the day and trust our process, trust our gameplay and execute it well on Saturday.”
31-year-old Cunningham, with a wealth of Challenge Cup experience behind her, is well aware of the test her side faces. “York Valkyrie are playing so well at the minute,” admits Cunningham. “They’re unbeaten in the league, so we know the challenge we’ve got ahead of us.
“We know that to beat them we have to be at our best and we’re preparing for that. All the girls are ready to be in a battle because you play for the games that are unpredictable – and that’s what Saturday is.”
A decade ago, Batley Bulldogs’ Mount Pleasant was the venue for the Women’s Challenge Cup Final – a fixture in which Cunningham featured as part of the Thatto Heath Crusaders team who defeated Bradford Thunder. “If you’d have told me back then that we’d have been playing at the Halliwell Jones” she says, “I don’t think I’d have believed that so to think that it’s an 80-minute performance away from playing at Wembley is huge.
“There’s a lot at stake and any semi-final is pressure. You always want to win, but I think this one for both teams is even more special. There’s so much more riding on it, to be the first women’s team to get to Wembley is going to be pretty epic.”
Sunday’s semi-final at Headingley (KO 2.15pm) sees reigning BWSL champions Leeds Rhinos take on Wigan Warriors for the right to play St Helens or York Valkyrie at Wembley.
After losing out to St Helens in last year’s final at Elland Road, Leeds fullback Caitlin Beevers is hoping that her team can go one step further and lay hands on a third Challenge Cup title.
Speaking at Headingley Stadium on Tuesday, Beevers explained: “I remember when it was first announced that the final was going to be at Wembley and my stomach dropped. I didn’t think that the women’s game would get this opportunity so early on in my career and to be part of a triple-header alongside the men is absolutely phenomenal.
“We played Wigan Warriors a couple of weeks ago and I don’t think the scoreline reflected the game. In the first half, they kept us to eight points. They’re a strong and physical side and we’re not underestimating them.”
Sunday will be the first time that the Warriors have made it to the semi-finals of the Women’s Challenge Cup since 2018 and the prospect of playing before the men’s team is motivating Wigan’s Mary Coleman towards Wembley. “We had a doubleheader earlier in the season” recalls Mary, “but it wasn’t at the same stadium, so it’s very exciting for us to play before the men and be that curtain raiser. We’re up for the challenge.
“We’re one club and we have a one club mentality. We would love to share in the success that the men have enjoyed. They were Challenge Cup winners last year and it would be great if we could follow in their footsteps.”
Tickets for the historic Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 12 August (also including the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final) are on sale from £20 for adults and £10 for Under-16s Rugby League (rugby-league.com)
Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup semi-finals
Saturday
Leigh Leopards v St Helens, 11.45am – Halliwell Jones Stadium live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Online
Sunday
Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors, 2.15pm – Headingley Stadium, live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Online
