The 2024 Challenge Cup Final was the 123rd final of the Rugby Football League's Challenge Cup knock-out competition. The final was contested by Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves. This was the first time since 1990 that both teams had met in the final.
bbc.comBackground
The 2024 Challenge Cup final will be only the second time Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves have played each other in the cup final – the first in 1990. Outside of the final, there have been 23 previous meetings in the cup.2
Wigan have won the competition a record 20 times, and enter the 2024 final as world champions. Their most recent final was in 2022, their first since 2013, beating Huddersfield Giants.
Warrington's most recent final was in 2019 beating St Helens to win their ninth title, one year after their Wembley defeat to Catalans Dragons.
Upon qualification for the final, Wigan were first in Super League with Warrington in third. Both teams however, were level on points though Wigan had a game in hand.
Route to the final
Wigan Warriors
| Round | Opposition | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sixth round | Sheffield Eagles | DW Stadium | 44–1834 |
| Quarter-final | Castleford Tigers | Wheldon Road | 60–656 |
| Semi-final | Hull KR | Eco-Power Stadium | 38–678 |
Warrington Wolves
| Round | Opposition | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sixth round | London Broncos | Halliwell Jones Stadium | 42–09 |
| Quarter-final | St Helens | Totally Wicked Stadium | 31–810 |
| Semi-final | Huddersfield Giants | Totally Wicked Stadium | 46–1011 |
Pre-match
British mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins sang the national anthem and Abide with Me ahead of the match. Jenkins was supported by British DJ Alex Simmons in providing the pre match entertainment.12
Prior to the game, the women's final was played and was won 22–0 by St Helens against Leeds.1314 Wigan's St Peter's Catholic High School won the Year 7 School's Final against Cardiff's Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf.15
Wigan's Adam Keighran and Tyler Dupree missed the final after both picking up a Grade D charge, three-match domestic ban following their Super League game against Warrington a week before the final. Keighran received a red card for a reckless tackle, and Dupree was charged with a headbutt, which was missed by the match official.16
Following the death of Rob Burrow on 2 June, the RFL announced that kick-off for the final would be put back from 3pm to 3:07pm to honour Rob and the number seven shirt he wore. Rob's death was commemorated with a minute's silence before kick-off and with a minute's applause during the seventh minute of the game.1718
Match details
| Saturday, 8 June 20243:07pm (BST) |
| Warrington Wolves | 8–18 | Wigan Warriors |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Dufty 63'Goals: Thewlis (2/2) 10' (pen), 64 | report | Tries: Eckersley 17', French 23', Farrell 57'Goals: Smith (3/3) 18', 24' 58' |
| Wembley Stadium, LondonAttendance: 64,685Referee: Chris KendallTouch judges: Johnny Roberts, Richard ThompsonLance Todd Trophy: Bevan French |
Teams
Team details| Warrington Wolves | Position | Wigan Warriors | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Number | Number | Name | |
| Matt Dufty 4' to 14' | 1 | FB | 1 | Jai Field |
| Josh Thewlis | 2 | WG | 2 | Abbas Miski |
| Toby King | 3 | CE | 26 | Zach Eckersley |
| Rodrick Tai | 14 | CE | 4 | Jake Wardle |
| Matty Ashton | 5 | WG | 5 | Liam Marshall |
| George Williams | 6 | SO | 6 | Bevan French |
| Josh Drinkwater | 7 | SH | 7 | Harry Smith |
| James Harrison 25' 54' | 8 | PR | 14 | Mike Cooper 3' to 13' 26' 65' |
| Danny Walker 47' 61' | 9 | HK | 9 | Brad O'Neill 29' 55' |
| Paul Vaughan 29' 42' | 10 | PF | 16 | Luke Thompson 33' 55' |
| Matty Nicholson | 13 | SR | 21 | Junior Nsemba 75' |
| Lachlan Fitzgibbon 42' | 12 | SR | 12 | Liam Farrell |
| Ben Currie | 11 | LF | 13 | Kaide Ellis |
| Zane Musgrove 50' | 16 | IN | 8 | Ethan Havard 26' 65' |
| Joe Bullock 29' | 19 | IN | 10 | Liam Byrne 41' 55' |
| Jordan Crowther 25' | 17 | IN | 15 | Patrick Mago 33' 41' |
| Sam Powell 47' | 32 | IN | 17 | Kruise Leeming 29' 55' |
| Stefan Ratchford (not used) | 4 | CS | 18 | Sam Walters (not used) |
| Sam Burgess | Coach | Matt Peet | ||
With less than 2 minutes played, Warrington were awarded a penalty, after former Warrington player Mike Cooper, was penalised for a head contact tackle, to which he was then shown a yellow card, and Wigan were down to 12 players for the next 10 minutes.
Two minutes later, Wigan were awarded a penalty, with Matt Dufty also being sent to the sin bin for a high tackle.
The first points of the game went to Warrington inside 10 minutes, after Wigan were penalised for offside, and Josh Thewlis opted to kick for goal, to which he was successful. Warrington 2–0 Wigan.
With 17 minutes of the game played, Wigan scored the first try of the game, after Bevan French kicked the ball through, for Zach Eckersley to touch down, but the referee wanted confirmation from the video referee, to see if he had grounded the ball. (On field decision: try). after reviewing the replay, the try was awarded. Harry Smith's conversion was successful, and Wigan lead 6–2.
Six minutes later, Wigan scored their 2nd try of the game, as Smith offloaded for French to touch down near the posts – Smith again successful with the conversion, and Wigan lead 12–2.
Wigan then thought they had scored their 3rd try just before half time, but after a lengthy review from the video referee, Bevan French was denied, as it was deemed a double movement/knock on.
Half time: Warrington 2–12 Wigan.
Two minutes into the second half, Matty Ashton almost found a break out wide, but Abbas Miski and Zach Eckersley managed to tackle him into touch.
Five minutes later, Liam Marshall almost scored in the corner, but he was tackled into touch, and Warrington got the ball back.
On 55 minutes, Wigan scored again, with Liam Farrell finding a gap through the middle of the pitch, and running 30 metres, to score Wigan's 3rd try of the game. Smith again successful with the conversion.
Warrington 2–18 Wigan.
With time running out, Warrington knew they had to score soon, and on 65 minutes, Matt Dufty touched down under the posts, with Thewlis converting. Warrington 8–18 Wigan.
Final Score: Warrington 8–18 Wigan.
Post match
Following the game the 2024 1895 Cup final was played. Wakefield Trinity beat Sheffield Eagles 50–6.19
See also
References
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"Leeds Rhinos 0-22 St Helens: Saints secure fourth-straight Women's Challenge Cup triumph with Wembley win". Sky Sports. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/26126/13149397/leeds-rhinos-0-22-st-helens-saints-secure-fourth-straight-womens-challenge-cup-triumph-with-wembley-win ↩
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Bower, Aaron (5 June 2024). "Challenge Cup final kick-off time moved to honour Rob Burrow at Wembley". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jun/05/rugby-league-challenge-cup-final-to-kick-off-at-307pm-in-honour-of-late-rob-burrow ↩
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