TODAY’S venue might be Warrington rather than Wembley, but Tom Gilmore will still be relishing the chance to claim a winners’ medal with Widnes at the expense of London Broncos, seven years after missing out against Sheffield.
The experienced halfback lined up for the Vikings when they lost 36-18 to the Eagles in the inaugural 1895 Cup final in 2019, played after Warrington beat St Helens to lift the Challenge Cup.
This year the showpiece has been taken away from the national stadium and is being played at the Halliwell Jones as a stand-alone Bank Holiday Monday (August 31) event.
Some say that has devalued the competition, which is open to teams outside Super League, but it still represents one of only three realistic chances for Championship sides to win something.
London, coached by ex-Widnes player Jason Demetriou and littered with overseas stars, have already claimed the Championship Leaders’ Shield, and are now aiming to add 1895 Cup and Grand Final success, with the treble achieved by Leigh in 2022 and Wakefield in 2024.
But the Vikings know they gave the Broncos a big test at the DCBL Stadium at the start of this month.
London eventually claimed a 42-36 win, but their unbeaten league record was ended by Oldham two matches later, that 34-24 triumph at Boundary Park bolstering the belief among other second-tier teams that the Broncos can, after all, be beaten, whether in the 1895 Cup or the play-offs, which start this weekend with Widnes involved.
Gilmore goes into the game having recently extended his second spell at his hometown club, who were in Super League when he emerged from the Academy to make his debut in 2012.
The 32-year-old former Halifax and Batley player will now be with the Vikings, whom after leaving ahead of the 2020 season he rejoined for 2023, through to 2028.
And with more than 150 appearances for the club already under his belt, he said: “Hopefully I can finish my career here.
“At the moment, I’m no further than the big matches we have coming up, and I’m sure the town will get behind us as they always do.”
Widnes go into the seventh 1895 Cup final (the 2020 competition was cancelled due to Covid) having played, albeit with a much-changed side, on Thursday, when they lost 12-8 at Sheffield in their final regular season outing.
London haven’t been in action since beating Halifax 58-12 at home eight days ago.
The Broncos have been boosted by getting versatile James Meadows’ signature on a two-year contract extension.
Demetriou said: “As well as going for the Championship, we said at the start of the season that the 1895 Cup was another trophy we potentially had the ability to win.
“The players are committed to do that. We’re in the final now and looking forward to what should be a good day and a cracking game.”
The match, at 3.00pm, will be live and free on and free on SuperLeague+.