Competition favourites Hull KR and nine-time winners Warrington Wolves meet at Wembley Stadium this weekend to contest for the Challenge Cup on its 125th renewal (kick-off 15:00 BST, BBC One)
Team News
Warrington gain some invaluable experience with captain George Williams making an impressive recovery from a serious ankle injury, cutting his recovery time down from at least eight weeks to a final berth in seven weeks since injury. Toby King is included after a rest period to remedy a lower limb issue and Conor Wrench makes his way back into the squad at the expense of youngster Ben Hartill.
Embed from Getty ImagesWarrington Wolves (21-man squad): George Williams (C), Jordy Crowther, Ben Currie, Matt Dufty, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, James Harrison, Adam Holroyd, Toby King, Arron Lindop, Joe Philbin, Sam Powell, Stefan Ratchford, Dan Russell, Marc Sneyd, Rodrick Tai, Jake Thewlis, Josh Thewlis, Paul Vaughan, Max Wood, Connor Wrench, Luke Yates.
Similarly, Hull KR welcome back supreme experience in the from of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Michael McIlorum. The first of which returns from a two match suspension, while McIlorum has been sidelined with a bicep injury.
Embed from Getty ImagesHull Kingston Rovers (21-man squad): Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Joe Burgess, Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May, Sauaso Sue, Jez Litten, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Dean Hadley, James Batchelor, Elliot Minchella, Michael McIlorum, Sam Luckley, Jai Whitbread, Jack Broadbent, Danny Richardson, Kelepi Tanginoa, Jack Brown, Eribe Doro, Bill Leyland, Harvey Horne.
Referee: Liam Moore
Touch Judges: Chris Kendall, Marcus Griffiths
Video Referee: Jack Smith
Form
Warrington Wolves: WLLWL
Warrington 34 – 24 Castleford
Warrington 12 – 31 Hull KR
Wakefield 40 – 10 Warrington
Warrington 21 – 14 Leigh (Challenge Cup)
Wigan 22 – 20 Warrington
Hull Kingston Rovers: WWWWW
Hull KR 34 – St Helens
Warrington 12 – 31 Hull KR
Hull KR 34 – 0 Huddersfield
Hull KR 36 – 12 Catalans (Challenge Cup)
Hull KR 54 – 0 Salford
Verdict
An excellent match up with the Robins chasing their first major silverware since 1985, while serial finalists look for redemption from last year’s final and their first trophy since beating St Helens in 2019 to hoist the Challenge Cup in 2019.
Hull KR bring the best form into the final, now unbeaten in seven with their only loss coming to Wigan in round 7 of Super League and boast the second best points difference in the league. On the other hand, Warrington have been patchy throughout and were no match for KR when they faced them in the league just over two weeks ago – following a 30-point loss to Wakefield.
The Wolves readied the ship more recently with a cosy win against the struggling Castleford Tigers. That match, however, gave Paul Vaughan a much needed hit up who looked some way back to his best in the Challenge Cup semi-final win against Leigh. He will be a key component if Warrington are to test the seemingly bulletproof KR outfit, off the back of whom George Williams can flourish fresh off his rehab stint.
He will need to stand up against a thriving pack from Hull, who have the Man Of Steel – Mikey Lewis – in the greatest form pulling the strings in behind, let alone the outside backs to match. The dearth in form is rarely this great in a final, though league form can often go out the window in knockout situations, and that should carry over into the final result this Saturday – albeit in a tighter affair than their previous meeting given the conservative gameplans observed in modern day finals.
Embed from Getty ImagesSneyd is a class operator in such situations, but much of the Wolves’ potency in attack will rest on the shoulders of a rushed back George Williams – and any physical pressure on him will undoubtedly have exaggerated effects as a result. The combination of fitness queries with the Wolves’ key man, KR having too much – comfortably – for Warrington just two weeks ago and the experience gained from their 2024 Grand Final disappointment, should see Hull Kingston Rovers end their lengthy trophy doubt in London.
Prediction: Hull Kingston Rovers by 8.
