Challenge Cup Final – Copybet
Challenge Cup Final – CopyBet
The first piece of silverware of the rugby league season will be handed out at Wembley on Saturday as Hull KR and Warrington Wolves meet in the Challenge Cup final.
Wembley appearances have become the norm for Warrington, who have won the cup four times and been runners-up on three occasions, including to Wigan last year, since 2009.
But it is 40 years since Hull KR's last piece of major silverware and they will be desperate to atone for a heartbreaking golden-point loss to Leigh in the 2023 Challenge Cup final.
Tip 1: A major trophy has remained tantalisingly out of reach for Hull KR since they claimed the now defunct Regal Trophy during the 1984-85 season, but Australian head coach Willie Peters has awoken something in the Robins.
Since taking charge ahead of the 2023 campaign, Peters has led Rovers to that season's Challenge Cup final and the Super League Grand Final a year later, both of which the Robins lost in agonising fashion.
But Old Trafford heartache last October appears to have lit a fire in the bellies of Rovers' players, who have looked like men on a mission in 2025.
The Robins are perched on top of the Super League standings after winning 12 and losing just one of their first 13 league matches, and they have made serene progress to this year's Challenge Cup final.
KR's semi-final rout of Catalans was an exercise in attacking efficiency and defensive togetherness, and they have already swept final foes Warrington aside once this season, winning 31-12 at the home of the Wolves only a couple of weeks ago.
Warrington will be determined to make up for last season's Wembley defeat at the hands of Wigan but they arrive at the national stadium in middling form - they've lost five of their last eight and are eighth in the Super League table - and maybe powerless to stop the rocking Robins.
Tip 2: Big players step up on the big occasion and there is arguably no better player in Super League right now than Hull KR's Mikey Lewis.
The reigning Man of Steel is at the centre of everything the Robins do, calling the shots from half-back as well as scoring his fair share of important tries.
Lewis has crossed for 12 league tries this season - only Wigan's Jai Field (15) has more - and he can add to his tally to help the Robins end their 40-yer trophy wait at Wembley on Saturday.
Tip 3: One of Hull KR's biggest strengths this season has been a suffocating defence which has conceded only 116 points in 13 league games.
The Robins have shipped just 28 points in their last five matches, keeping two opponents to nil in that time, and they will be hoping to nullify most of what Warrington throws at them on Saturday.
Since Rovers suffered a humiliating 50-0 drubbing at the hands of Leeds in the 2015 final, no Challenge Cup showpiece has featured more than 38 points and the nine finals in that time averaged 30 points.
Finals are rarely won at a canter so going low on total points at Wembley looks a wise option.
Matthew is a sports journalist and editor with over a decade in the industry at a national level. He specialises in cricket, cycling and rugby league.