It’s set to be a scintillating showdown between two of the top teams in the competition as two huge rivals grace the hallowed turf this weekend, in this year's Betfred Challenge Cup Final…
Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors will walk-out at Wembley on Saturday afternoon in what will be their first Challenge Cup Final meeting since 1990.
There are 24 previous Challenge Cup meetings between the two sides – meetings which date back all the way to 1904, with the 25th one set to take place on the big stage.
Both sides have tasted Challenge Cup glory in recent years – the Warriors lifting the famous trophy in 2022 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while the Wolves last won the cup in 2019.
The two sides are no strangers to each other when it comes to competing in games of a huge magnitude – they have already met in three Super League Grand Finals in recent history, and currently sit 2nd and 4th in this year’s league table.
Warrington’s 2024 cup journey began with a comfortable 42-0 home win over London Broncos, before they enjoyed back-to-back wins at the Totally Wicked Stadium in the quarter and semi-finals.
Sam Burgess’ men overcame the Saints 31-8 in emphatic fashion to secure a semi-final spot, which saw the Wolves return to the Totally Wicked to face Huddersfield Giants. Here they ran riot with a 46-10 victory and seven different try-scorers, to convincingly book their place in final.
Likewise, Wigan, who are a record-breaking 20 times Challenge Cup winners, have produced three strong wins to reach Wembley, which will be their first appearance at the iconic venue since 2017.
The sixth round saw the Warriors prove too powerful for Championship heavyweights Sheffield Eagles, as they stormed to a 44-18 victory with a blitz of tries in the last 20 minutes.
This was followed by a huge 60-6 win over Castleford in the quarters on home soil, before another thoroughly dominating display in Doncaster’s semi-final – consigning Hull KR to defeat with a 38-6 scoreline.
The 2024 season has been arguably one of the most competitive yet, as the Betfred Challenge Cup takes centre stage this weekend.
Both sides have been formidable in their journeys to this year’s Final. Wigan are the current Super League and World Champions for a reason, while Warrington’s head coach Sam Burgess has instilled a fresh optimism and work ethic at his new club.
As the Warriors sit pretty at the top of the Super League table, the Wolves are also thriving both on and off the field and reaping the rewards in both the league and cup. But who will be successful on Saturday?
Warrington and Wigan have already met once in Super League this season. In fact, it was a Challenge Cup dress rehearsal in Round 10 – as the sides only met last Saturday – exactly a week before their hotly-anticipated cup clash.
There were a number of changes to both sides but the quality did not differ and it is the Warriors who have the upper hand heading into next week’s capital showdown but only just – they pipped a 19-18 league victory.
Both sides burst with quality and are littered with players who possess that all-important experience on the big stages. There are also a number of players who played in their sides’ most recent Challenge Cup victories.
There are plenty of ones to watch on either side on Saturday. For Warrington, George Williams could be pivotal. He ability to cut through opposition defences and create chances for his team-mates will be crucial to the Warrington’s success at Wembley.
Matt Dufty’s blistering pace and Matty Ashton’s acrobatic finishing will also be vital assets to ‘Wire’ at the weekend. Dufty currently sits as Super League’s top metre maker in 2024, while Warrington flier Ashton has scored in every cup match he’s played in this year – racking up a total of five tries in the 2024 Challenge Cup competition. Will he score some more on Saturday?
Toby King is also gearing up to face his former side, whom he won the Grand Final with last year. King has been key in 2024 and also played in the 2019 winning side.
For Wigan, veteran Liam Farrell will be on Warrington’s radar. He’s played in four previous Challenge Cup Finals and won three, which means he has all the experience necessary to help lead his side to victory.
Liam Marshall is another one to watch. He’s the top try scorer in Super League so far this season, as well as joint top try scorer in this year's Challenge Cup competition. He was also the match-winner in Wigan’s memorable 2022 Challenge Cup Final win. The Warriors can always rely on Marshall when they need a play, but could he do it again on Saturday?
Wigan’s main orchestrater Bevan French will also be ready to create some more magic moments in this year’s final. He is capable of causing huge problems for the Warrington defence on Saturday with his control of the game and flashes of individual brilliance. Fancy French will no doubt be hot to handle in this year's Final.
All signs suggest another closely fought contest in the Challenge Cup Final between two of the sport’s chief entertainers - who are you backing?
Expect the Unexpected in the Betfred Challenge Cup!
Throughout Finals Day on Saturday, Rugby League will also pay tribute to the late legend Rob Burrow, who sadly passed away last Sunday - details here.
The 2024 Betfred Challenge Cup Final will take place on Saturday 8 June, K.O. 3.07pm at Wembley Stadium and shown LIVE on BBC One.
The Men's 2024 Betfred Challenge Cup Final (KO 3.07pm) 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.
