This weekend’s Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup semi-finals see holders Halifax Panthers take on London Roosters in a repeat of the 2025 final as the Roosters seek their revenge and hunt for their first piece of silverware.
London were on strong form last season, making it to both finals but just missing out each time.
The Panthers edged them and won the Challenge Cup and Super League, whilst also claiming the League Leaders’ Shield.
As they approach their first meet since last season, Roosters captain Lewis King is confident they have what it takes to make it back to the final.
He said: “I feel like we’re in a good place; we’ve won our first four games quite comfortably and we’re all playing well as a team.
“Last year we got to both finals, both against Halifax, but we know this year it’s going to be a different final because us and Halifax are meeting in the semis.
“Looking back on our recent history with them, in 2023 we beat them home and away, last season we drew against them, and we only narrowly lost in finals against them.
“We know we can beat them, we have done in the past. They’ll have a gameplan and we’ll have our gameplan. We play very different styles of rugby. It’ll be a good contest.”
The Panthers have also made a strong start to their season, staying unbeaten in both competitions.
King added: “They’ve got individual talent but they work well as a team and when you’ve got a team that have been playing together for such a long time they have built really strong connections.
“They’re good team-mates to each other, they’re all dedicated and committed to winning everything.”
As captain, King has a great understanding of his players and is confident in their ability to get the job done. He said: “Joe Coyd, he was Wheels of Steel winner last season and he’s carried on that form from last year into this year - he’s absolutely on fire at the moment!
“We’ve got Mason Billington, another England international alongside myself and Joe. He’s playing well and is in really good form.
“You’ve got the likes of Jason Owen who’s a bit like Wayne Boardman. He’s been playing the game for about 15 years, maybe more, and he’s got so much experience and is a really calming influence on the team.
“He’ll come onto the pitch when the time is right and he’ll calm the team down and set a different tempo.
“We’ve also got Jason Owen’s son Max playing for us this season. He started for us at the back end of last season but Max has really come on leaps and bounds and has really been a key player for us this season so far.”
In Saturday’s other semi-final, Wigan Warriors meet Leeds Rhinos, two sides who have also hit the ground running in this year’s competition. Now, with a place in the Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final on 25 July within touching distance, just one more victory separates them from the big stage.
Both clubs are no stranger to the occasion. Wigan’s most recent final appearance came in 2024 while Leeds featured in 2023, falling short to Catalans Dragons on both occasions.
This year, however, one of them is guaranteed a return to the final as they go head-to-head, with the added challenge of facing a 2025 finalist.
With momentum building and history on the line, all teams will be determined to seize their opportunity this weekend and take that final step towards lifting the trophy.
