By Dave Craven
THERE’S not much Sinead Peach hasn’t done in rugby league.
The York Valkyrie star has represented England, led her club to back-to-back Super League Grand Final victories in 2023 and 2024 and also won Woman of Steel as the competition’s best player.
The skilful hooker remains one of the most influential players around but one thing still eludes her.
Despite all her success, Peach has still yet to win the Challenge Cup, something she hopes to take a big step towards correcting this weekend.
York face holders Wigan Warriors in Saturday’s semi-final for a place at Wembley.
On the prospect of reaching the showpiece, the ex-Castleford Tigers ace admitted: “It’s all we’ve spoken about, to be honest.
“It’s the thing we haven’t achieved, and it’s the “what ifs”.
“It’s definitely something we want to achieve and it’s within arm’s length now.
“We’re excited. We’ve got a new squad so let’s see if we can do it.”
York have made a raft of changes this term both on and off the field with ex-St Helens, Bradford Bulls and Great Britain star Leon Pryce coming in as new head coach.
The ex-Cronulla Sharks centre Monique Donovan came in from the NRLW and they also recruited Canada international Petra Woods while Sade Rihari, their 2024 title-winning captain, returned after a spell out of the game.
York have always been trailblazers in the sport, becoming the first Women’s Super League club to sign players to part-time professional contracts.
But the Cup is the missing piece of their jigsaw.
They progressed into the last four with a 34-10 quarter-final win over Huddersfield Giants which saw Donovan make a try-scoring debut and Carrie Roberts and Lisa Parker both make their returns to the club.
That has left them in good nick and looking to end their recent record of painfully falling short in the Cup semi-finals.
York were edged out 10-6 by St Helens in last year’s semi-final while, the season before that,
they missed out on Wembley following a 32-2 semi-final hammering by the same opponents.
Saints did the business, too, in 2023, denying Valkyrie in agonising style as the York side missed out by a solitary point in a 17-16 defeat at the same stage.
Leeds beat York 26-24 in another gripping semi-final in 2022 so it’s easy to see why the club is so desperate to succeed this time around.
As tough as those experiences were, though, Peach reckons it holds them in good stead for the 80 minutes ahead.
She said: “Everything is heightened when you get to this stage.
“But we stay grounded.
“It gives you a little bit of an advantage being in those environments before.
“But it’s still the same game.
“We’ve regrouped this year, got different players in and different coaching staff so to get back into the semis with this squad is exciting.
“It’s been amazing so far.”
York’s only appearance in the Challenge Cup final was a 34-6 loss to Leigh in 2021 when Peach scored their only try.
But Cup heartache goes back even further for Peach – she lost her first final with Featherstone Rovers in 2017 and then two more
on the bounce after moving to Castleford.
Now she knows York will have to beat quadruple-winning Wigan to give her the chance to finally break her duck.
But the 27 year-old insisted: “You want to beat the best to be the best so bring it on!”
And the thought of Wembley won’t ever be far from the side’s thoughts as they go into battle
once more with everything on the line. Peach conceded: “It does mean a lot.
“I’ve never been before so it’s something I want to do.
“It’s exciting but we’ve got a big game against Wigan to get through before that. That’s all we’re concentrating on.
Wigan Warriors v York Valkyrie - Saturday 9 May, K.O. 11.30am (BBC iPlayer)
It's Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 30 May 2026. Book your tickets here!
