Challenge Cup stats & facts

As we edge ever closer to the Betfred Challenge Cup Final on Saturday, let’s take a look at all the stats and facts surrounding the game, the teams and the competition…

Betfred Challenge Cup Final – Wigan Warriors v Huddersfield Giants, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Previous Final meetings:

Challenge Cup

• 1920 Huddersfield 21 Wigan 10 (at Headingley, Leeds)

Championship

• 1950 Huddersfield 2 Wigan 20 (at Maine Road, Manchester)
• 1946 Huddersfield 4 Wigan 13 (at Maine Road, Manchester)
• 1913 Huddersfield 29 Wigan 2 (at Belle Vue, Wakefield)
• 1912 Huddersfield 13 Wigan 5 (at Thrum Hall, Halifax)

Wigan Warriors – Previous Challenge Cup Finals:

• 2017 Lost (v Hull FC, 18-14) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 2013 Won (v Hull FC, 16-0) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 2011 Won (v Leeds, 28-18) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 2004 Lost (v St Helens, 32-16) (at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)
• 2002 Won (v St Helens, 21-12) (at Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
• 1998 Lost (v Sheffield Eagles, 17-8) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1995 Won (v Leeds, 30-10) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1994 Won (v Leeds, 26-16) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1993 Won (v Widnes, 20-14) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1992 Won (v Castleford, 28-12) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1991 Won (v St Helens, 13-8) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1990 Won (v Warrington, 36-14) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1989 Won (v St Helens, 27-0) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1988 Won (v Halifax, 32-12) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1985 Won (v Hull FC, 28-24) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1984 Lost (v Widnes, 19-6) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1970 Lost (v Castleford, 7-2) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1966 Lost (v St Helens, 21-2) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1965 Won (v Hunslet, 20-16) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1963 Lost (v Wakefield, 25-10) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1961 Lost (v St Helens, 12-6) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1959 Won (v Hull FC, 30-13) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1958 Won (v Workington, 13-9) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1951 Won (v Barrow, 10-0) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1948 Won (v Bradford, 8-3) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1946 Lost (v Wakefield, 13-12) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1944 Lost (v Bradford, 8-3 – aggregate score after two legs)
• 1929 Won (v Dewsbury, 13-2) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1924 Won (v Oldham, 21-4) (at The Athletic Ground, Rochdale)
• 1920 Lost (v Huddersfield, 21-10) (at Headingley, Leeds)
• 1911 Lost (v Broughton Rangers, 4-0) (at Weaste, Salford)

Huddersfield Giants – Previous Challenge Cup Finals:

• 2009 Lost (v Warrington, 25-16) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 2006 Lost (v St Helens, 42-12) (at Twickenham)
• 1962 Lost (v Wakefield, 12-6) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1953 Won (v St Helens, 15-10) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1945 Won (v Bradford, 13-9 – aggregate score after two legs)
• 1935 Lost (v Castleford, 11-8) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1933 Won (v Warrington, 21-17) (at Wembley Stadium)
• 1920 Won (v Wigan, 21-10) (at Headingley, Leeds)
• 1915 Won (v St Helens, 37-3) (at Watersheddings, Oldham)
• 1913 Won (v Warrington, 9-5) (at Headingley, Leeds)

Previous Challenge Cup meetings:

• 1956 (Quarter Final) Wigan 24 Huddersfield 2
• 1953 (Semi-Final) Huddersfield 7 Wigan 0 (at Odsal Stadium, Bradford)
• 1951 (Quarter Final) Wigan 2 Huddersfield 0
• 1937 (Quarter Final) Huddersfield 7 Wigan 8
• 1928 (Round 1) Wigan 2 Huddersfield 13
• 1920 (FINAL) Huddersfield 21 Wigan 10 (at Headingley, Leeds)
• 1915 (Semi-Final) Huddersfield 27 Wigan 2 (at Parkside, Hunslet)
• 1913 (Quarter Final) Wigan 5 Huddersfield 14
• 1911 (Round 1) Wigan 18 Huddersfield 13
• 1909 (Quarter Final, Replay) Wigan 16 Huddersfield 3
• 1909 (Quarter Final) Huddersfield 10 Wigan 10
• 1904 (Round 1) Huddersfield 0 Wigan 7

Last ten meetings:

• Huddersfield 32, Wigan 22 (SLR12, 12/5/22)
• Wigan 22, Huddersfield 12 (SLR3, 24/2/22)
• Huddersfield 12, Wigan 14 (SLR9, 16/7/21)
• Wigan 16, Huddersfield 12 (SLR14, 11/7/21)
• Wigan 19, Huddersfield 6 (SLR20, 6/11/20) (at Emerald Headingley, Leeds)
• Huddersfield 10, Wigan 42 (SLR5, 1/3/20)
• Huddersfield 22, Wigan 38 (SLR19, 21/6/19)
• Wigan 6, Huddersfield 14 (SLR5, 8/3/19)
• Huddersfield 6, Wigan 13 (SLS8-R6, 20/9/18)
• Huddersfield 20, Wigan 12 (SLR21, 12/7/18)

Wigan Warriors – Challenge Cup Final appearances

John Bateman

• 2017 Lost (v Hull FC, 18-14)

Liam Farrell

• 2017 Lost (v Hull FC, 18-14)
• 2013 Won (v Hull FC, 16-0)
• 2011 Won (v Leeds, 28-18)

Willie Isa

• 2017 Lost (v Hull FC, 18-14)

Thomas Leuluai

• 2017 Lost (v Hull FC, 18-14)
• 2011 Won (v Leeds, 28-18)

Liam Marshall

• 2017 Lost (v Hull FC, 18-14)

Sam Powell

• 2017 Lost (v Hull FC, 18-14)

Brad Singleton

• 2015 Won (v Hull KR, 50-0) * for Leeds

Iain Thornley

• 2013 Won (v Hull FC, 16-0)

Lance Todd Trophy

Most wins

• 3 Sean Long (St Helens): 2001, 2004, 2006

Youngest and oldest

• Peter Ramsden of Huddersfield is the youngest player to win the Lance Todd Trophy, receiving it on his 19th birthday after scoring two tries in the 15-10 defeat of St Helens in 1953.
• Frank Whitcombe is the oldest winner, the Bradford Northern prop being 29 days short of his 35th birthday in 1948. He became the first player of a losing side to receive the award after an 8-3 defeat to Wigan.

Youngest and Oldest Finalist

• Francis Cummings of Leeds (17 years 200 days) became the youngest player to appear in a Challenge Cup Final when he played on the wing and scored a try in the defeat against Wigan in 1994.
• The youngest winner was Andy Farrell (17 years 11 months), playing substitute for Wigan when they beat Widnes in 1993.
• The oldest player to appear in a Cup Final was Workington Town full back Gus Risman, who was 41 years 29 days when he led his side to victory over Featherstone Rovers in 1952.

Dismissals

• Richard Eyres of Widnes was the last player to be sent off in a Challenge Cup Final, against Wigan at Wembley in 1993. The referee was Russell Smith.
• The sin bin was introduced in January 1983 and was occupied in a Cup Final for the first time that year when Hull’s Paul Rose was despatched by referee Robin Whitfield. Later in the game Featherstone Rovers’ Terry Hudson was also sent to the sin bin.
• The last player to be sent to the sin bin in a final was Shane Rigon of Bradford Bulls in the 2001 Final against St Helens at Twickenham, by Russell Smith.

Challenge Cup Final Records

Most finals and wins

• 19 wins in 31 finals by Wigan (Wembley: 17 wins in 25 finals by Wigan)

Highest score

• Leeds Rhinos 52 London Broncos 16 (at Wembley Stadium, 1999)

Widest margin

• Leeds Rhinos 50 Hull Kingston Rovers 0 (at Wembley Stadium, 2015)

Most tries by a team

• 9 Leeds Rhinos (v Hull Kingston Rovers, 50-0) (at Wembley Stadium, 2015)
• 9 Leeds Rhinos (v London Broncos, 52-16) (at Wembley Stadium, 1999)
• 9 Huddersfield (v St Helens, 37-3) (at Watersheddings, Oldham, 1915)

Most points by a losing team

• Bradford Bulls 32 St Helens 40 (at Wembley Stadium, 1996) (also record aggregate of points – 72)

Most successful fightback

• St Helens overcame the biggest deficit of 14 points to win a Final when they beat Bradford Bulls 40-32 at Wembley in 1996. The Saints trailed 26-12 from the 53rd to the 57th minute.

Biggest attendance

• 102,569 Halifax v Warrington (1954 replay at Odsal Stadium, Bradford) – Wembley: 99,801 Hull v Wigan (1985)

Most tries by a player

• 5 Tom Briscoe (Leeds Rhinos) in the 50-0 defeat of Hull Kingston Rovers at Wembley in 2015

Most goals by a player

• 8 Iestyn Harris (Leeds Rhinos) in the 52-16 defeat of London Broncos at Wembley in 1999
• 8 Cyril Kellett (Featherstone Rovers) in the 33-14 defeat of Bradford Northern at Wembley in 1973

Most points by a player

• 20 Tom Briscoe (5 tries) in Leeds Rhinos’ 50-0 defeat of Hull Kingston Rovers at Wembley in 2015
• 20 Iestyn Harris (1 try, 8 goals) in Leeds Rhinos’ 52-16 defeat of London Broncos at Wembley in 1999
• 20 Neil Fox (2 tries, 7 goals) in Wakefield Trinity’s 38-5 defeat of Hull at Wembley in 1960

Most appearances

• 11 Shaun Edwards (Wigan 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995; London Broncos 1999) – all at Wembley

Most wins

• 9 Shaun Edwards – as above, except loser in 1984 and 1999

2022 Betfred Challenge Cup Leading Scorers

Tries

1 = Tee Ritson (Barrow Raiders) 5

 Jordy Gibson (North Wales Crusaders) 5

3 = Kieran Gill (Bradford Bulls) 4

 Greg Eden (Castleford Tigers) 4

 Fouad Yaha (Catalans Dragons) 4

 Jordan Paga (Hunslet) 4

 Matty Chrimes (Sheffield Eagles) 4

Goals

1 Tommy Makinson (St Helens) 16

2 Dan Abram (Swinton Lions) 15

3 Craig Hall (Featherstone Rovers) 14

4 Izaac Farrell (Sheffield Eagles) 12

5 = Tom Gilmore (Batley Bulldogs) 11

 Lewis Sheridan (Rochdale Hornets) 11

Points

1 Dan Abram (Swinton Lions) 38

2 Craig Hall (Featherstone Rovers) 36

3 Tommy Makinson (St Helens) 32

4 = Tom Gilmore (Batley Bulldogs) 30

 Lewis Sheridan (Rochdale Hornets) 30