Challenge Cup 2025

[Padge]

2 minutes ago, Wellsy4HullFC said:

Is that the one they got a drop goal in straight away then a penalty after but ended up losing 80odd-3?

That's the one. I think the final score was 83-3.

Simms Cross had a great day, gave a lot of compliments about how Wigan treated their players,, officials and sponsors as if they were a visiting top team. 

I went to the game and despite the crowd being a bit under 4,000 it was a great atmosphere.

[OriginalMrC]

Some brilliant draws here with real opportunities for smaller clubs to host a Super League team. Who cares if they get a load of points put on them, this is what the cup is about.

[Griff]

40 minutes ago, Padge said:

That's the one. I think the final score was 83-3.

Simms Cross had a great day, gave a lot of compliments about how Wigan treated their players,, officials and sponsors as if they were a visiting top team. 

I went to the game and despite the crowd being a bit under 4,000 it was a great atmosphere.

Wigan dropped a goal?

You had them worried.

[Padge]

10 minutes ago, Griff said:

Wigan dropped a goal?

You had them worried.

Apologies it was 82 - 3

But that would have been funny.

[KiwiRL]

I understand it has great history, but the challenge cup is one of the most ridiculous and convoluted tournaments in all of sport. 

 

[Father Gascoigne]

1 hour ago, KiwiRL said:

I understand it has great history, but the challenge cup is one of the most ridiculous and convoluted tournaments in all of sport. 

 

There's nothing ridiculous nor convoluted about it. It's straightforward, inclusive, and champions the Corinthian spirit sport was founded upon.  

[Wellsy4HullFC]

7 hours ago, The Blues Ox said:

We had 1800 against them last season. How does a club that is in a downward spiral improve on that this season? There is no feel good factor or buzz around Fax like there was around York.

That may be another factor as they really can't use last seasons game to advertise anything. Why not come and watch your team get spanked by a team that most people in the area have either never hear of or just have no affiliation with them at all.

Have you ever thought about a career in marketing and advertising? You sound like a natural fit...

[Just Browny]

7 hours ago, The Blues Ox said:

We had 1800 against them last season. How does a club that is in a downward spiral improve on that this season? There is no feel good factor or buzz around Fax like there was around York.

That may be another factor as they really can't use last seasons game to advertise anything. Why not come and watch your team get spanked by a team that most people in the area have either never hear of or just have no affiliation with them at all.

Are you really annoyed at drawing Catalans? Because it sounds like you're more fed up that Halifax have a weak team, which would be a problem against any Super League opposition.

Incidentally I went to the match last year and enjoyed it. Halifax gave a decent account of themselves, there was a bit of niggle which got the crowd interest, and Halifax got a well deserved try at the end. Will consider going again if Halifax make it that far.

[The Blues Ox]

4 minutes ago, Just Browny said:

Are you really annoyed at drawing Catalans? Because it sounds like you're more fed up that Halifax have a weak team, which would be a problem against any Super League opposition.

Incidentally I went to the match last year and enjoyed it. Halifax gave a decent account of themselves, there was a bit of niggle which got the crowd interest, and Halifax got a well deserved try at the end. Will consider going again if Halifax make it that far.

Yeah I would much rather have drawn any other SL team. Obviously Wigan, Leeds, or Saints would have been nice for us but I have zero feelings about Catalan what so ever. Its funny but if Siddal were to get through their next game and we end up playing the same day then they will likely get a bigger crowd than us and it wouldn't be surprising if it actually takes fans away from our game. Now that is a game that I could get behind despite Siddal having no chance.

[JohnM]

24 minutes ago, The Blues Ox said:

Yeah I would much rather have drawn any other SL team. Obviously Wigan, Leeds, or Saints would have been nice for us but I have zero feelings about Catalan what so ever. Its funny but if Siddal were to get through their next game and we end up playing the same day then they will likely get a bigger crowd than us and it wouldn't be surprising if it actually takes fans away from our game. Now that is a game that I could get behind despite Siddal having no chance.

Earlier, you wrote: Ergh Catalans at home if we get through the next round. Worst possible SL team to draw at home.

Now you write: I have zero feelings about Catalan

Which is right? Zero or negative?

Of course, should you end up playing them, your club could do something positve, like. well, lets see...trying to market the event and sell some tickets. Promote the Blue Sox vs Red Dragons, for example and I think you might find the less insular sporting population of Halifax are more aware of things over the channel than you give them credit for.  

[Ellandback]

13 hours ago, Archie Gordon said:

3 community clubs playing SL oppo does seem as if the pendulum has swung too far. This may need a tweak for 2026. That said, I am sure full-strength SL teams won't be on display.

I - as a Siddal supporter - have mixed feelings on this one. On one side you know your team is going to get thumped and there is no chance whatsoever of a football style 'giant killing' On the other, it is a fantastic day for officials, players and supporters of the community club, not least financially. 

Playing Wakefield last year was arguably Siddal's biggest ever match, a crowd of 1,500 gave gate receipts that the club could only dream of otherwise and we did hold them close until half time before being blown away in the second 40 minutes. My understanding was that Siddal were excellent hosts and Wakefield equally excellent visitors.

We need to beat Midlands Hurricanes first - and we may be in with a small shout there - but a home game against Salford will undoubtedly be the biggest in Siddals' history and, for me, will make up for getting frostbite at Hammersmith Hills Hoists.

Edited January 15 by Ellandback

[OriginalMrC]

5 hours ago, KiwiRL said:

I understand it has great history, but the challenge cup is one of the most ridiculous and convoluted tournaments in all of sport. 

 

It's pretty much a straight knockout tournament. Hardly convoluted!

[Archie Gordon]

1 minute ago, Ellandback said:

I - as a Siddal supporter - have mixed feelings on this one. On one side you know your team is going to get thumped and there is no chance whatsoever of a football style 'giant killing' On the other, it is a fantastic day for officials, players and supporters of the community club, not least financially. 

Playing Wakefield last year was arguably Siddal's biggest ever match, a crowd of 1,500 gave gate receipts that the club could only dream of otherwise and we did hold them close until half time before being blown away in the second 40 minutes. My understanding was that Siddal were excellent hosts and Wakefield equally excellent visitors.

We need to beat Midlands Hurricanes first - and we may be in with a small shout there - but a home game against Salford will undoubtedly be the biggest in Siddals' history  

I'm in broad agreement.

But my view is that the round of 32 would be better if (a) the 20 non-SL qualifiers were a stronger set of teams overall and (b) SL clubs could be drawn against each other. 

I am all for a Siddal vs Salford tie but these should be once-every-couple-of-years events. Under this year's design, we'll have 3 community club vs SL club fixtures - with more possible.

Good luck at Midlands.

[dkw]

5 hours ago, KiwiRL said:

I understand it has great history, but the challenge cup is one of the most ridiculous and convoluted tournaments in all of sport. 

 

In what ways is it ridiculous and convoluted, its the simplest form of cup competition known, theres literally no simpler format than draw team A - Draw team B.

[Snowys Backside]

Leigh potentially going to Derwent Park should be fun. I still have a hangover from our last CC game there

I feel a nice long weekend in the Lakes being on the agenda (unless they decide on a silly KO time and day) 

[Ainley Top]

47 minutes ago, JohnM said:

Earlier, you wrote: Ergh Catalans at home if we get through the next round. Worst possible SL team to draw at home.

Now you write: I have zero feelings about Catalan

Which is right? Zero or negative?

Of course, should you end up playing them, your club could do something positve, like. well, lets see...trying to market the event and sell some tickets. Promote the Blue Sox vs Red Dragons, for example and I think you might find the less insular sporting population of Halifax are more aware of things over the channel than you give them credit for.  

Utter rubbish. Blues Ox is % correct, it is a terrible draw for Fax. We will more than likely lose money on both games against the amateur team, and Catalans if we progress. Fax are going through a very difficult period at the moment financially, and this is the last draw we needed. There again if we win both games....

[Damien]

2 minutes ago, Ainley Top said:

Utter rubbish. Blues Ox is % correct, it is a terrible draw for Fax. We will more than likely lose money on both games against the amateur team, and Catalans if we progress. Fax are going through a very difficult period at the moment financially, and this is the last draw we needed. There again if we win both games....

If Halifax can't sell a tie against a SL club then maybe that explains why they are were they are financially.

[Bull Mania]

55 minutes ago, Archie Gordon said:

I'm in broad agreement.

But my view is that the round of 32 would be better if (a) the 20 non-SL qualifiers were a stronger set of teams overall and (b) SL clubs could be drawn against each other. 

I am all for a Siddal vs Salford tie but these should be once-every-couple-of-years events. Under this year's design, we'll have 3 community club vs SL club fixtures - with more possible.

Good luck at Midlands.

Agree with this. I know there's been a bit of an overreaction on the messy draw (eg. 4 teams could possibly play 4 other teams) but that's because for some reason the sport has decided drawing a round before the other round has even been played has become a thing. The fixtures when they've settled down are some decent ties. 

Just needs tweaking. I'd perhaps make it so the community clubs being drawn against an SL side is more of a rareity than the current setup. As above poster said Siddal. V Salford should be a rareity, not happening most years. Also need to stop seeding clubs. Just put everyone in the hat. 

[KiwiRL]

1 hour ago, dkw said:

In what ways is it ridiculous and convoluted, its the simplest form of cup competition known, theres literally no simpler format than draw team A - Draw team B.

Actually the simplest form of knock out competition is an open bracket where 16, 32, or 64 teams are all drawn from the opening round like a tennis major.

Not some teams coming in during later rounds and the farce of pros against amateurs in a contact sport in an already overstuffed schedule.

Type of rubbish that helps explain why the British game is on it's ass. 

Edited January 15 by KiwiRL

[Just Browny]

8 minutes ago, KiwiRL said:

Actually the simplest form of knock out competition is an open bracket where 16, 32, or 64 teams are all drawn from the opening round like a tennis major.

Not some teams coming in during later rounds and the farce of pros against amateurs in a contact sport in an already overstuffed schedule.

Type of rubbish that helps explain why the British game is on it's ass. 

Tennis majors have seeds and preliminary qualifying rounds to get there. You might need a better example.

I happen to think the 'Super League teams drawn away' thing is a bit convoluted, but I don't think it's a big deal and lots of people wanted it for years. Let's see how it goes.

[Derwent]

1 hour ago, Snowys Backside said:

Leigh potentially going to Derwent Park should be fun. I still have a hangover from our last CC game there

I feel a nice long weekend in the Lakes being on the agenda (unless they decide on a silly KO time and day) 

It’s nice when we play Leigh, gives us the opportunity to reminisce about the time we beat you 94-4 . That was 30 years ago next month in the CC 4th Round - time flies.

[KiwiRL]

7 minutes ago, Just Browny said:

Tennis majors have seeds and preliminary qualifying rounds to get there. You might need a better example.

 

Does Novak get to skip through the opening 5 rounds of Wimbledon and play against an amateur en route to the title? 

 

[Ainley Top]

1 hour ago, Damien said:

If Halifax can't sell a tie against a SL club then maybe that explains why they are were they are financially.

That is one way of looking at it.

[RBKnight]

39 minutes ago, KiwiRL said:

Actually the simplest form of knock out competition is an open bracket where 16, 32, or 64 teams are all drawn from the opening round like a tennis major.

Not some teams coming in during later rounds and the farce of pros against amateurs in a contact sport in an already overstuffed schedule.

Type of rubbish that helps explain why the British game is on it's ass. 

When Emma Raducanu won the US Open tennis in 2021, she had to win three qualifying rounds to even appear in the main draw, then played seeds. So, not unusual at all.

I take it you don't like the Challenge Cup ?

 

[gingerjon]

22 minutes ago, KiwiRL said:

Does Novak get to skip through the opening 5 rounds of Wimbledon and play against an amateur en route to the title? 

 

There are rounds that take place before the main event.

Previous winners usually get to open against a qualifier who will have played in some or all of those rounds.

In a seeded, and not open, draw.