23 Jan 2025
NCL heavyweights go head-to-head in Round Two | 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup

Two of the National Conference League’s top teams will battle it out in Round Two of the Betfred Challenge Cup on Saturday, with the winner securing an attractive tie against Super League big guns, St Helens.
Hunslet ARLFC will take on NCL rivals West Hull, in a rematch of last year’s Play-Off semi-final, where Hunslet inflicted an 6-18 defeat on their opponents before going on win a fourth Premier Division Grand Final.
The West Yorkshire side secured their third successive title last year and were cleverly guided by the NCL’s Coach of the Year, Sam Thorpe, along with his coaching team Martin Rowse, Jamie Fields and Liam Thompson.
Thorpe has been a part of the club’s coaching staff for well over seven years, and is optimistic for the upcoming season:
“Before joining the NCL we went through back-to-back promotions. We’ve been NCL champions three times in a row, and we’re well established in this league now - along with other clubs, like West Hull, Siddal and Thatto Heath,” explained Thorpe.

“Our aim is to stay where we have been and be a club that others can really look up to.
“We’re going through a bit of a transitional period, and from the outside looking in I think West Hull might be in a similar situation.
“We’ve had quite a few players retire from last year’s squad and got a couple of young lads coming in.
“We’ll attack every game and have the belief to win. A successful year for us would be up there competing as we have done previously. We proved ourselves last year when we had a massive part of last season where we struggled with injuries and performance wise in general.
“We weren’t quite putting games to bed, so we addressed this towards the end of the season, set some targets and went on to win the Grand Final from fourth.”
As Hunslet prepare for 2025, they have an inviting Challenge Cup home tie with West Hull this weekend, after beating Stanley Rangers away from home in Round One:
“These Challenge Cup games always come as a bit of blessing, as it can be hard to get friendlies and teams who want to play before the season starts,” admitted Thorpe.
“The cup games are good because you’re able to get the lads out there and work on those combinations.
“We always knew that Stanley were going to be well up for it and we knew that they had the belief that if they could stay in the arm wrestle, then they could keep us frustrated.
“It was good, Stanley kept coming until the very end and really put us under pressure at times, which is better for us in the long run.
“We got a fair bit out of the game and know what we can work on, especially with it being our first hit out of the year. It was a great test for us and a good all-round game – a nice, fair, clean but tough game.”
Hunslet v West Hull’s fixture has seen some fiercely intense encounters in recent seasons, and Thorpe is under no illusion that their Round Two tie will be any different:
“It’s always a tough, hard-fought game when we play West Hull. They are a very well drilled and well coached team.

“We’ve got a few lads back for this weekend and it’ll be good to see where some of the young boys are who should be coming into the first team frame regularly.
“I’m sure West Hull will be the same.”
Thorpe also recognises the huge incentive of a home tie against 13-time Challenge Cup winners Saints, but insists his side will be focussing wholly on getting the victory in Round Two:
“The winners of this week’s game will play St Helens, which is a massive honour to play. We’ll take it as it comes, but it’s not something I’ve overly thought about because you can’t look too far ahead.
“West Hull are a really good team and that’s the concentration of this week’s task. That’s what I’ll be trying to relay to the lads – we have to take it one week at a time.”
Thorpe and his Hunslet side enjoyed a Round Four tie against Wakefield Trinity in 2024, with winger Tyler Dargan scoring a memorable intercept at the DIY Kitchens Stadium.
Now, they are just 80 minutes away from facing professional opposition once more, due to the new format for 2025 which sees Super League clubs enter the Challenge Cup competition from as early as the Third Round:
“If we get the honour of being able to play St Helens then we’ll assess that next week, but for this week it’s just all eyes on West Hull.
“It was a great day out at Wakefield – it really set us up for the season.”
Likewise, Thorpe’s coaching opposition on Saturday, Ryan Steen, is also looking forward to Round Two’s contest.
This will be Steen’s first season in charge at West Hull, as former head coach Mark Hewitt takes the reigns as the club's Director of Rugby.
“This is my first year fully coaching,” said Steen. “I’ve been a player-coach for a couple of seasons now and then the opportunity came about to hang up my boots and start coaching full-time.
“A lot of our lads in the team have played at a decent level and know their rugby. It’s all about getting the best out of them and making sure they’re enjoying it – that’s my job.”

The East Yorkshire side have been consistently strong in the NCL Premier Division, with an impressive second place finish last year:
“We are there or thereabouts every year and there’s no reason why we can’t be this year too. We’ve had a little bit of a transitional period and have a fairly younger squad in 2025, but the enthusiasm is there, and everyone is keen to learn.”
West Hull certainly haven’t forgotten their semi-final heartbreak from last year, but Steen is relishing the challenge ahead:
“Our last competitive was against Hunslet in the semis. They beat us to the Grand Final and they went on to go win it.
“We’re looking forward to a competitive game. It’ll be a tough challenge and Hunslet will be thinking exactly the same.
“Some players might have a bit of an added incentive for revenge, but from a coaching perspective it’s all about concentrating on ourselves. Hunslet will be motivating themselves in the same way.
“The Round Three tie is a massive incentive - the chance to go and have a pop at St Helens in the next round should be enough to motivate the players in itself.”
And Steen gave his thoughts on the potential opportunities that could await in next stage of the competition:
“The magic of the cup is great, especially with the Super League teams coming in at Round Three. It means community clubs are getting a chance against Super League opposition, which rarely happens.
“This year teams could be playing someone who they never thought they’d get to play in their career.
“If we get to Round Three, it’s massive for the clubs and massive for some of the lads to experience.
“Hopefully we can get the win against Hunslet, and we’re able to host St Helens at West Hull on our own pitch.
“But first, we’re expecting a big crowd over at Hunslet – both home fans and our fans travelling in numbers!”
Hunslet ARLFC host West Hull in Round Two of the Betfred Challenge Cup on Saturday 25 January, K.O. 2pm.
Saturday 7 June is Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day 2025 – also including the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final, AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final, and RFL Champion Schools Year 7 Boys Final. Tickets are on sale now!
Photo Credit: Alex Shenton Photography & Adam at Southstand Photography