Four sides find themselves just 80 minutes from place at Wembley following the Betfred Challenge Cup Quarter Finals at the weekend.
Let’s look at some of the standout stats from an action-packed cup round (All stats provided by Opta)…
St Helens produced a dominant display over Catalans Dragons to book their semi-final spot (their first since 2023), with a terrific Tristan Sailor delivering one of his trademark masterclasses, whilst also contributing a personal haul of 14 points.
Sailor was outstanding throughout, running 203 metres from 25 carries – the highest of any player on the pitch – whilst scoring one try, making two try assists and four tackle busts – and kicking five goals.
Saints enjoyed 56% of possession on Friday Night at their home, the BrewDog Stadium, which was reflected in the six tries they scored, five more line breaks they made, and 42 fewer tackles they completed than the Dragons.
And defensively, it was George Delaney who led by example. Delaney produced a mammoth 51 tackles in his side’s quarter-final clash – 12 more than the next highest tackler, Benjamin Garcia, who recorded 39.
Big Alex Walmsley also returned to the Red V line-up with a bang. In a powerful 40-minute stint, Walmsley came up with 142 metres, five tackle busts and 24 tackles – giving his all in the Challenge Cup quarter finals.
Jackson Hastings’ boot also proved vital as well, with 11 kicks totalling 288 kicking metres. Let’s not forget two tries for Saints’ young star George Whitby, too.
Hull KR moved one step closer to retaining the trophy with a sensational spectacle against York Knights at Sewell Group Craven Park.
The current holders were clinical and dominated with 57% of the possession on Saturday, making 697 more metres than the Knights (2262 to1435).
Surprisingly, however, there were 13 errors apiece, but this highlighted how strong Hull were as Willie Peters’ men could afford to make those mistakes yet maintain firm control on the game.
There were plenty who shone in the Red & White including Jez Litten, who produced a Player of the Match performance with 145 metres and 35 tackles.
Meanwhile, Jack Broadbent’s dazzling display consisted of 246 metres, one try assist, two-line breaks, two-line break assists and three tackle busts in Saturday’s quarter-final win – a stellar showing from the Robins’ versatile back.
Broadbent emerged as the top metre maker across the entire Challenge Cup weekend.
Tyrone May was equally as magic, scoring three tries and making the most runs of any Robins player (26).
Oliver Gildart also turned provider with two try assists on Saturday afternoon.
Eight Robins surpassed 100 metres - Broadbent (246), Mikey Lewis (166), Peta Hiku (152), Litten (145), Tom Davies (136), May (111), Tom Amone (104), Sauaso Sue (102), suggesting they did run riot against York.
In defeat, the Knights’ Oli Field led the visitors’ defensive effort with an exceptional 44 tackles.
Warrington Wolves versus Leigh Leopards proved to be a closer contest of the two previous ties, with several Wolves player standing out.
Their rivalry stepped up a gear as a pulsating match up unfolded at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday.
The ever-reliable Ben Currie enjoyed a stellar showing – just one week after his signing his new contract extension – and he knows all about Challenge Cup rugby league.
The veteran loose forward scored a match-winning double to secure Wire’s spot in the semis, and his attacking threat didn’t stop there with a superb 114 metres and eight tackle busts.
And even more impressively, Currie completed a whopping 50 tackles – missing just one in the entire match.
Marvellous Marc Sneyd used his big game experience – and THAT left foot – to see Warrington through to the semis.
If it wasn’t the successfully converted goal to edge his side in front 12-10 in the second half, it was his beautiful kick try assist for Currie’s first.
Notably, Sneyd’s 17 kicks in play totalled a jaw-dropping 613 kicking metres as he guided his team around the park on Saturday evening.
Returning from injury, young gun Cai Taylor-Wray was key for the Wolves, with 154 metres in 23 runs, seven tackle busts and 101 kick return metres – doing what a fullback does best.
On a losing Leopards side, Innes Senior can be proud of his performance with the opening try, 139 metres and four tackle busts, as he did everything he could to try and keep their semi-final hopes alive.
But it wasn’t to be as it’s Warrington who progress to the next round. Will Sam Burgess’ side reach Wembley for a third successive year?
Wakefield Trinity’s and Wigan Warriors meeting arguably delivered the standout tie of round, with stats showing an extremely intense encounter at the DIY Kitchens Stadium on Sunday.
Possession was 49% to 51%, demonstrating the sheer ferocity of the affair. Both sides threw everything at each other and spent an average of four minutes playing the ball in their opposition’s 20m, showing how both teams took their chances and ensured that they turned pressure into points.
The Warriors completed 87% of their sets, and Wakefield weren’t far behind with 76%.
Jay Pitts and Brad O’Neill were the top tacklers in this outing with 49 and 54 respectively.
On the attacking front, wingers Tom Johnstone and Liam Marshall racked up 170+ metres each, with an electric Johnstone and Jai Field producing eleven tackle busts individually.
Games were raised on Sunday by all parties, but the acts of Harry Smith proved to be the difference.
The Warriors made significantly more kicking metres, with Smith producing eight more kicks than his opposite half-back Mason Lino in second (17 to 9).
Smith’s kicking metres added up to 500 and his kick assists set up tries from Patrick Mago, Field and Zach Eckersley’s first.
If we delve into the types of kicks, record 21-time Challenge Cup winners Wigan produced six ‘bombs’ as opposed to Wakefield’s one, three grubbers in comparison to Wakefield’s one, as well as two chip kicks and three long kicks into space.
Though perhaps, Mago was the man of the hour and needs to be applauded. Spending just 31 minutes on the pitch, an energetic Mago managed 97 metres in 12 runs, four tackle busts and 12 tackles – making a monumental impact in his bursts.
Mago’s fired cut-out pass to Adam Keighran who then found Eckersley to dot down for his second, is what, ultimately, proved to be the winning score.
Fellow prop forward Luke Thompson also had a stormer with 163 metres to his name.
What will the semi-finals bring?
Tickets to the 2026 Betfred Challenge Cup Final are available here with the early bird deadline closing at midnight on Monday 13 April!
