Betfred Challenge Cup Final Preview

It's Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Week!

Betfred Super League comes to a pause this weekend, as the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup Finals take centre stage! Head over to our Rugby League website and Challenge Cup social channels to view all things Challenge Cup!

Who's ready for an epic showdown on Saturday?

? It's Wembley week!

? The Men's and Women's @Betfred #ChallengeCup trophies are up for grabs this Saturday at @WembleyStadium!

? Get your tickets by clicking through...

— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) June 2, 2025

BACKGROUND & THE STORY SO FAR:

In 2025, Warrington Wolves and Hull KR grace the hallowed turf and will walk-out at the national stadium on Saturday afternoon to contest for the sport’s oldest and most coveted trophy, the Betfred Challenge Cup.

This will be their first Challenge Cup Final meeting since 1905, where Warrington beat KR 6-0 at Headingley in Leeds.

In total, there are 18 previous Challenge Cup meetings between the two sides – meetings which date back all the way to that 1905 Final, with the most recent one taking place in 2019 at the quarter-final stage.

Warrington have nine cup titles to their name but will be keen to make it double digits on Saturday, as well as right their wrongs from their 8-18 Challenge Cup Final defeat to Wigan Warriors last year.

The Wolves have been fortunate enough to taste Challenge Cup glory in the past decade – they last lifted the famous cup in 2019 after beating St Helens.

Hull KR, on the other hand, will be hoping to finally end their long wait for silverware on Saturday. While it may be their third Challenge Cup trophy in the last ten years, the Rovers are yet to get their hands on the trophy.

1980 was the last time Hull KR were cup holders, following their famous victory in the 10-5 Final against inner-city rivals Hull FC.

It’s their third major final in three years, however, having fallen dramatically short to Leigh Leopards in the 2023 Challenge Cup Final and losing out to champions Wigan in the 2024 Betfred Super League Grand Final.

Could it be a case of now or never?

Hull KR have enjoyed the finer form in 2025, sitting top of the Super League table with 12 wins from 13 and are currently one of the league’s chief entertainers.

Meanwhile, the Wolves have faced plenty of adversity with injuries and find themselves positioned eighth in the table with just six wins under their belt.

But it’s no secret that form can go out of the window on the big stage and in finals - and both sides enter Saturday’s game with momentum swinging in the right direction, after respective wins in Round 13 of Super League the week before.

Where the Challenge Cup is concerned, Warrington’s 2025 cup journey began with a comfortable 44-4 win over Whitehaven, before battling with local rivals Widnes to come away with a 26-16 victory.

Wire then continued their winning run over St Helens in both league and cup as they overcame Paul Wellens’ side 20-12 in the quarters, before beating Leigh Leopards 21-14 to book their place at Wembley.

At the same time, Hull KR have swept past their Challenge Cup opponents with convincing scorelines this year – putting York, Oldham, Hull FC and Catalans Dragons to the sword in order to secure their place at the iconic Wembley venue.

Saturday’s finalists have already met once in Super League this season. In fact, it was a Challenge Cup dress rehearsal in Round 12, with the Robins running away with the game 12-31 in the end.

While Warrington still have a fairly similar group to the one that appeared in the final last year, there are only six Robins who remain from the 2023 Challenge Cup Final – James Batchelor, Dean Hadley, Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten, Sam Luckley and skipper Elliot Minchella.

Ben Currie, Joe Philbin, Stefan Ratchford and Toby King are also the only players left from Warrington's most recent win at Wembley back in 2019.

SATURDAY'S SQUAD NEWS & ONES TO WATCH:

There's a story waiting to be written. The 21-man squads have been named for Saturday and there are plenty of ‘ones to watch’ on either side.

For Warrington, the return of their captain George Williams will be pivotal as he makes his return from injury and is named in the Wolves' 21-man squad.

The England skipper’s ability to cut through opposition defences and create chances for his team-mates could be crucial to Warrington having success at Wembley.

There’s additional drive for Williams who is also aiming for his first individual Challenge Cup win.

Maverick Matt Dufty’s blistering pace and moments of madness could also cause plenty of problems – he’s already surpassed over 2000 metres this year, but will he run rings around Hull KR on Saturday?

Meanwhile another vital asset for Warrington is the ever calm and collected Marc Sneyd as the scrum-half continues to prove that age is just a number.

Sneyd is arguably one of the best kickers to ever grace the sport and is no stranger to a Challenge Cup Final, having won back-to-back at Wembley with Hull FC in 2016 and 2017. He also snapped up the Lance Todd Trophy on both occasions.

Wire may be without their main speedster in the side Matty Ashton, but the Thewlis brothers, Josh and Jake, have filled these boots well, and can even produce an acrobatic finish or two themselves!

Toby King, Jordy Crowther and Connor Wrench also return to the 21-man squad after not featuring in last week's Super League win over Castleford.

Your Wembley Wires ?? pic.twitter.com/nPe953KRwv

— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) June 5, 2025

In Hull KR’s side, they have the mercurial Man of Steel, magic Mikey Lewis whose infectious passion, determination and belief should inspire his teammates to victory.

He’s at the heart of everything Hull KR do and the heroic halfback has been in unstoppable form this season, topping the club's attacking stats. You can always rely on him to deliver individual moments of brilliance, but he's a team player first and foremost.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is a warrior you'd want in your side. JWH is a renowned prop forward, having captured a long list of major honours in his illustrious 16-year NRL career with Sydney Roosters. He's proven leader at the highest level and will look to impose his presence in the pack at Wembley. He returns to the side after serving a two-match suspension.

The 36-year old recently announced his plan to retire at the end of the 2025 season, which makes Saturday's final that extra poignant as he hopes to conquer his last bits of silverware.

Versatile Jack Broadbent has been a standout for the Robins since joining the side in April and can cover multiple positions. Winger Joe Burgess has also stepped up.

In other news, Michael McIlorum is also named in Hull KR's extended squad after being out with a bicep injury. The Robins are without Arthur Mourgue for the final, however, who remains cup-tied.

Our 21-man squad for @TheChallengeCup Final is IN ?#UpTheRobins??? pic.twitter.com/Gmc8qTNUFm

— Hull KR (@hullkrofficial) June 5, 2025

Ultimately, to lift the trophy would mean everything to both sides and its individuals...and all signs suggest we’re on course for an electric Challenge Cup Final this Saturday.

But who are you backing? And more importantly, have you got your tickets yet?

Warrington will face Hull KR in the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup Final on Saturday 7 June (K.O. 3pm) and will be shown LIVE on BBC One.

Expect the Unexpected in the Betfred Challenge Cup!

It's Finals Day at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 7 June. Be at Wembley for both the Men's and Women's Challenge Cup Finals, as well as the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final and RFL Champion Schools Year 7 Boys Final, and purchase your tickets here!

Betfred Super League will next return for Round 14 on Friday 13 June.