“It feels like someone has come into our house and robbed us.”
That’s the feeling around St Helens whenever they see the empty space in the trophy cabinet that once housed the Women’s Challenge Cup trophy for four straight years.
Having first lifted the famous trophy in 2021, after victory over York, St Helens then kept hold of their prize until Denis Betts’ rampaging Wigan Warriors blew them away with a dominant 42-6 win 12 months ago.
Although second-rower Paige Travis watched last season’s final from afar, the disappointment felt at that defeat is no easier for her to take than it is for any of her team-mates who were involved on the day.
“The Cup is always something we’ve had success in, and once we got hold of it, we didn’t want to let it go,” says Travis, who spent the 2025 season with Parramatta Eels in the NRLW before returning to Saints over the winter.
“It was an unbelievable run, and it did feel like ours for a while - we owned it. So it’s really strange to think somebody else has taken that from us. It does actually feel like you’ve been robbed, that someone has come into your house and taken something, so there is definitely a feeling of wanting to claim that trophy back.
“It was so hard watching last year’s final from Australia and not being able to help or be involved, and I know how much it hurt them to lose that game, so as much as I want to win this for me, I want it for the other girls more.
“I don’t think anyone expected the scoreline or the game to go as it did last year, but in a way I think it was the best thing that happened to them, because they then went out and had some really close contests with Wigan.
“It was a tough lesson to learn, but sometimes they’re the best ones you can have. Yes, it hurt at the time, but now we’re ready to bring the Cup back home. It’s going to be a battle, but it’s a battle that will be worth winning.”
Two of those previous four victories for St Helens have come at this very stadium, with the Red V winning the first two women’s finals staged at Wembley.
Add to that a third appearance under the arch last year, and Wembley is starting to feel like a home from home for the St Helens squad.
But for Travis, her side’s experience of the stadium will matter little during the heat of one of Rugby League’s biggest rivalries.
“It is genuinely something that I have to pinch myself over when I realise that there are players who haven’t had the chance to play at Wembley, and now I’m about to do it for a third time,” continues Travis, who admits the magic of running out at the iconic stadium never lessens for her.
“It just makes me really grateful to be part of such a successful squad over the last few years.
“Every time I’ve walked out at Wembley, I’ve had a small tear in my eye because it’s a surreal stage to play on and it gives you an overwhelming feeling of pride - pride in myself, my team-mates and the women’s game. I just look around and think, ‘wow, look at where we are right now’. And that is such an inspirational message, not just for ourselves but for all young girls, and I just can’t wait to get back out there.
“Playing there before does help the next time because it is never as nerve-racking as the first time, when you don’t really know how big it’s going to feel or how intimidating the stadium will look. It is still really exciting, but the nerves are a lot more settled when you’ve been there, played on it and touched the grass before.
“But Wigan aren’t new to that either; they’ve tasted silverware before and will want to again, so that does make them very dangerous. They’ll want it just as much as we do.
“It is always quite emotional playing Wigan anyway, because a lot of it is about the badge and what you’re wearing on your chest, and that’s really important.
“It doesn’t matter what’s in front of you; you’re just bred to have a different level of expectation when you take to the field in a derby. It’ll be the same for them as well, but we’re still hurting from last year, so we have to up our game and bring some fire to it.”
Despite missing out on the Cup last season by such a big margin, Saints bounced back and pushed Wigan all the way in the league for the rest of the campaign.
The two sides played out a 22-22 draw in the league just weeks after the Wembley encounter, with Wigan topping the table by just a single point over Saints to claim the League Leaders’ Shield.
They then met again in the Grand Final, with Wigan claiming the treble with a 16-12 victory.
But hard work in the off-season, led by new strength and conditioning coach Alex Davidson, who made three Super League appearances for Salford in the early 2010s, is paying dividends.
Travis is confident that the improved strength and speed he has brought to the side will be evident today on the biggest of stages. “Alex has been great,” adds Travis.
“He’s a great S&C coach, very strict, but he’s got us in good shape with relentless training and a great programme that he’s built for us. It’s been tough, but the girls have been able to follow it and do a lot of things away from the club, which has really helped.
“He knows what he’s doing in the gym as well, so he can help us get the best out of that programme.
“He’s worked us really hard, and there is no better stage to show the benefits of that than Wembley in a Challenge Cup Final.”
By Lorraine Marsden
Tickets for 2026 Betfred Challenge Cup Final can be purchased here.
