Roar Guru
The Warrington Wolves start as slight favourites when they take on Hull in the 2016 Challenge Cup Final to be played at Wembley Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 11:30pm (AEST).
The Hull teams features eight players with NRL experience – captain Gareth Ellis, Mark Minichiello, Sika Manu, Frank Pritchard, Carlos Tuimavave, Steve Michaels, Fetuli Talanoa and Mahe Fonua.
The Warrington team has three – Kurt Gidley, Chris Sandow and Ashton Sims.
Only pone of those players won a premiership in the NRL – Sika Manu for the Storm in 2012. For the others, a Challenge Cup victory would be a career highlight.
Hull earned their spot in the final with a 22-8 quarter-final win over the Catalans Dragons, followed by a hard-fought 16-12 win over Wigan in the semi-final.
Warrington beat Widnes 20-18 in the quarter-final, before thumping Wakefield Trinity 56-12 in the semi-final. That big win has earned them slight favouritism for this final with the bookmakers.
For the uninitiated, the Challenge Cup is an eight-round knockout competition that features both amateur and professional teams. It runs in conjunction with the professional Super League competition each season.
Unlike some years in the Challenge Cup’s long history, there is no Cinderella story among the two finalists this season. Hull are currently at the top of the Super League ladder, followed by Warrington just a point behind.
The Challenge Cup final could well be an early preview of the Super League final in October. Hull have beaten Warrington in both of their Super League matches this season, though both matches were tight.
Warrington have won the Challenge Cup eight times in their history, the last time being in 2012. Hull have won it three times, most recently in 2005.
Prediction
This one really could go either way. Whichever team can handle the pressure of the big occasion in front of an expected capacity Wembley crowd will lift the Cup.
Warrington by 4 points.
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