The Betfred Challenge Cup quarter-finals are underway this weekend, where eight remaining Betfred Super League clubs have the chance of being within one match of legendary Wembley.
As the final four in the Challenge Cup will be decided this weekend, all eight of 2024’s quarter-finalists have made it to the final within the last six years, but who will make an anticipated return there?
Hull KR v Leigh Leopards
It’s a rematch of last year’s scintillating final when Hull KR take on Leigh Leopards at Sewell Group Craven Park, in what is set to be a fierce encounter.
There have been five cup meetings between the two sides in the last eight years – all five being extremely close contests, and Hull KR winning four out of five.
Most memorably, was of course Leigh Leopards’ emphatic last-gasp Challenge Cup Final win at Wembley in 2023 – their first time lifting the trophy in 52 years. Leigh’s Lachlan Lam came up with the match-winner in golden point, slotting over a drop goal in the most dramatic of circumstances to snatch a historic win.
The Robins will no doubt be out for revenge following this Challenge Cup heart-break and are certainly the favourites given their current form. But as form tends to go out of the window in knockout rugby league, the Leopards will look to continue their title defence and will refuse to give it up lightly.
Both teams come into this game on the back of strong cup wins in the Sixth Round – Hull KR running riot against Salford Red Devils, whilst Leigh kicked off their 2024 cup journey with a hard fought win over a resilient Featherstone Rovers outfit.
Hull KR will also be boosted by their recent league win over London Broncos, whereas Leigh will have to dust themselves down quickly following a heavy loss to the current Super League Champions Wigan in their Round 7 derby.
There are fresh faces in both sides from the teams that featured at Wembley last season, who will be relishing the chance to secure a semi-final spot against their opponents. But there’s also plenty of familiar faces who remain in either side, as they prepare to go head-to-head with each other once more, in front of the BBC cameras.
Most notably, Ben Reynolds, who recently signed as a Robin, will be on the opposite side this year, if selected to play on Saturday. Having played an integral part in Leigh’s Challenge Cup victory, kicking four goals, and partnering Lachlan Lam in the halves, could he possibly play a part in this quarter-final clash for Hull KR?
The Robins have now made two Challenge Cup Finals within the past ten years but haven’t tasted glory since their one and only cup win in 1980.
As a club they’ve been certainly been building in recent seasons - could they be edging closer to a Wembley win, or will Leigh Leopards cause devastation for a the second time?
St Helens v Warrington Wolves
There’s an unmissable quarter-final cup clash happening at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Sunday afternoon, when St Helens welcome Warrington Wolves.
The Wolves fell short at the quarter-finals last year, whilst St Helens went one step further in the semis but suffered a close defeat at the hands of Leigh Leopards.
With both teams eyeing up silverware in 2024, it’s predicted to be a full-blooded affair, as their 18 meetings in the Challenge Cup date all the way back to 1900. Their most recent meetings in this competition consist of the 2020 Quarter-Final in which Warrington won, and more notably, 2019's Final.
2019 is Warrington’s most recent Wembley appearance, where they beat St Helens 18-4. Interestingly, Daryl Clark was the Wolves’ key man – scoring a sensational match-winning try and earning The Lance Todd Trophy on the back of it.
Now in Saints colours, Warrington will have to watch out for their former star, as they will know all too well what he can be capable of.
For St Helens, who are 13 times Challenge Cup winners, they last tasted success at Wembley in 2021 when they defeated Castleford Tigers 26-12.
Both St Helens and Warrington have only endured two defeats this season, with Warrington coming into this match with momentum from their win over Leeds. Saints, on the other hand, will look to bounce straight back following a narrow loss in Perpignan.
As two top teams with clear ambitions for the season battle it out, who will register a semi-final place?
Catalans Dragons v Huddersfield Giants
Catalans Dragons will play hosts to Huddersfield Giants on Saturday evening, and it has to be noted that the Dragons are currently unbeaten at home in 2024.
It will be a tough test for Ian Watson’s Giants, but one they will be relishing, as they travel over to Perpignan to face the team sitting at the top of the Super League table following Round 7’s set of results.
Like Catalans, Huddersfield were victors last weekend and will have great confidence heading into this quarter-final tie.
It was one a piece in the league last year, and the two sides have only ever faced other twice in the history of the Challenge Cup competition – a Round 5 tie in 2011 in which Huddersfield came away 30-16 winners, and more recently in 2018’s Quarter-Final, where Catalans triumphed.
2018 was also the same year the Dragons went on to win their first ever Challenge Cup Final and trophy in memorable fashion - and Steve McNamara’s men will be hoping they can reiterate the same success in 2024.
Likewise, Huddersfield will be hungry for cup success, having not lifted the trophy for 71 years. They came agonisingly close in 2022, but a Liam Marshall try in the dying minutes of the Challenge Cup Final cruelly snatched it for their opponents Wigan Warriors, leaving the Giants crushed and empty-handed.
From 2018’s Quarter-Finals between the two teams, there are a few familiar faces remaining – including Leroy Cudjoe and Benjamin Garcia who are now both captains and established leaders of their clubs.
Who will want it to more come Saturday night?
Castleford Tigers v Wigan Warriors
It’s going to be a 2014 and 2016 Quarter-Final repeat on Sunday afternoon when Castleford Tigers face Wigan Warriors in the fourth and final quarters tie.
The sides have met each other 14 times in Challenge Cup history, dating back to 1937, and this includes the 1992 Final.
In recent cup encounters, the Tigers emerged victorious 4-16 at the DW Stadium in 2014’s Quarter-Final – the same year they reached the Wembley Final for the first time since 1992. 2016’s Quarter-Final would then see Wigan win 26-12 on their home turf.
Both sides have appeared in Wembley in recent years, Castleford in 2021 when they lost to St Helens, and Wigan who won a thriller in 2022.
Matt Peet’s men will return to the Mend-A-Hose Jungle on Sunday, having already travelled there in for Round 1 of Super League this year. The Champions won comfortably 4-32, but the Tigers will have a point to prove this time around.
Having claimed their first league win last Friday on home soil against Salford Red Devils, the Tigers will be looking to produce a similar performance in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals with home advantage once more.
But will they be able to overcome a dominant Wigan side, who are rich with cup history and are looking to add to their glistening trophy cabinet?
Expect the unexpected in the Betfred Challenge Cup!
Betfred Challenge Cup Quarter-final ties:
Hull KR v Leigh Leopards – Saturday 13 April, 5pm (BBC2)
Catalans Dragons v Huddersfield Giants – Saturday 13 April, 7pm
Castleford Tigers v Wigan Warriors – Sunday 14 April, 3pm
St Helens v Warrington Wolves – Sunday 14 April, 4.30pm (BBC2)
The Men's 2024 Betfred Challenge Cup Final (KO 3pm) is part of a Finals Day triple-header at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 8 June, alongside the finals of the Betfred Women's Challenge Cup (KO 11.45am) and the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup (KO 5.45pm). Plus, there will be the traditional Year 7 Boys’ Champion Schools Final at 10am. Tickets are available online now from only £20 Adults and £10 Under 16s, with family packages also available.
