JODIE CUNNINGHAM was left with conflicting emotions after the St Helens captain’s last Wembley appearance ended in a heavy Women’s Challenge Cup Final defeat to rivals Wigan Warriors.
The England star has been one of the faces of Women’s Rugby League over the past decade and she will be retiring at the end of this season along with team-mate Emily Rudge.
There was to be no fairytale ending on one of the sport’s grandest stages for the duo after Wigan stormed to a 54-6 victory to retain the trophy, but Cunningham’s disappointment was more for the team than for herself.
“It wasn’t about me or Emily, it was about the team and performing, and ultimately lifting a trophy for the club,” Cunningham said.
“We’ve not done that and it’s bittersweet because that’s the last performance I’ve got on that Wembley turf and it wasn’t a great one, but at the end of the day we still did well as a team to get here.
“This is our first look at Wigan for the season; we now know what we’re up against for the rest of the season, but they’ve set the bar with their performances so far.
“They’re going to be the team to beat and hopefully we’ll go and give it a crack at the end.”
Having been one of the dominant sides in Women’s Rugby League, including winning the Challenge Cup four times in a row from 2021 to 2024, Saints now find themselves as one of the chasing pack behind the Warriors.
Cunningham’s eyes are already on the Women’s Super League clash with the Warriors on June 27 and she is confident St Helens will prove more than a match for the 2025 treble-winners.
In particular, the 34-year-old is taking inspiration from their showing after being beaten by the Cherry and Whites in last year’s Challenge Cup Final.
“We proved last year that we can turn the scoreline around because we got a [22-22] draw at their place a couple of weeks later,” Cunningham, whose side are two from two in the league so far following wins over Barrow Raiders and York Valkyrie, said.
“We need to fix some things up and we can’t perform that way. A few missed tackles, you get some quick rucks, half-breaks, and then you’ve lost the first tackle and set and they’re making 80 metres on a six-tackle set, which isn’t good enough.
“We’ve got to be better in that first contact area, but it’s hot and the girls were working really hard.
“The occasion takes a lot out of you and it was tough out there, but credit to Wigan.”