Castleford Tigers look to win Their First Challenge Cup Since 1986 as they take on St Helens at Wembley

Castleford Tigers face off against favourites St Helens in the Betfred Challenge Cup final at Wembley on Saturday with the Tigers in search of a fifth cup success and a first since 1986.

Opponents Saints most recently won the competition back in 2008 courtesy of victory over Hull FC and will be the favourites coming into this game where victory would provide them with their 13th cup lift. It must be said though that the pressure of an occasion such as a final can affect players and staff alike in different ways, and with countless factors playing a part, this really could be anyone’s trophy come the full-time hooter.

Going into the final, league form favours the Saints having only suffered two defeats all season and sitting second in the Betfred Super League table. ‘Cas’ on the other hand sit in seventh, with five wins and five losses to date in this campaign having struggled to find consistency. However, Daryl Powell’s side did produce their best performance of the season so far in the semi-finals of the cup as they overcame the challenge of Warrington Wolves to earn themselves a trip to Wembley.

Played at Leigh Sports Village, Jordan Turner’s hat trick along with tries from Gareth O’Brien, Jesse Sene-Lefao and Paul McShane sealed a 35-20 victory on the day and meant that it would be a streak of black and amber on Wembley Way rather than the primrose and blue of the Wolves, who have appeared  in two of the last three Challenge Cup finals. 

Meanwhile, St Helens made their way to the final by beating Leeds Rhinos and Huddersfield Giants before seeing off Hull FC in the semi final – also played at Leigh Centurions’ home ground – to give their fans a trip to the capital. Kristian Woolf’s Saints were 18 points to the good with around half-an-hour left to play, and had to fend off the Black and Whites’ attempts to mount a miracle comeback with two late tries securing an 18-33 scoreline in their favour.

Saturday’s final was set up for a very interesting storyline as the two Mata’utia brothers – Peter (Castleford) and Sione (St Helens) – were set to face off against each other, however the RFL have handed the latter of those a two-game ban for two separate incidents in a recent win over Wakefield Trinity and as such, Sione looks set to miss out on the Wembley showdown barring a late appeal from Saints.

We spoke to brother Peter on the ‘Rugby League Review’ podcast last week as he opened up on what the occasion would mean to him, more so due to coming up against his brother, and the Tigers man pulled no punches in saying that he was ready for ‘relationships to go out of the window’ on the pitch. Unfortunately, that will no longer happen unless the appeal on the ban is successful, and the pair will now face a wait to see the outcome. outcome.

Either way, this final has more than enough talking points, and it promises to be an interesting contest between two well established Super League outfits. Both sides will be handed more incentive to win for their supporters given the horrid impact felt by many as a result of the ongoing Coronavirus crisis over the last 18 months, with the pandemic having had a huge impact on sport across the last 18 months or so, be it rugby league or otherwise. Around 45,000 fans are expected to be packed into Wembley and this one promises to be some occasion. 

It will also have an emotional feel to it with being the final chance for the likes of Peter Mata’utia and Oliver Holmes’ to win silverware for Cas, a club that holds a special place in both their hearts. Both of those – along with head coach Powell – are moving onto Warrington from the start of next season and will be itching to claim the club’s first Challenge Cup triumph in 35 years. Powell is in his eighth and final year of service with the Tigers, and has spoken at length previously about just what it would mean to leave a parting gift come the end of the campaign.

All in all, this cup final has more than most which have gone by previously riding on it. There are last chances at glory for some of the elder statesmen in both camps, opportunities for players and staff to write their name into the history books, and the possibility of becoming a club legend for many. Wembley will undoubtedly be bouncing on Saturday afternoon, and for the majority of those involved, the tie can’t come soon enough.

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