Players, coaches and supporters share their best Challenge Cup memories....

Players:

Robbie Paul

UP FOR THE CUP!

“Make no mistake about it, the 1996 Challenge Cup Final made my career. I mean that in the sense that all references about me in the game of rugby league after that day always refer to my performance in that match.

“I was on the losing team to St Helens, but I scored a hat trick – the first player to do so in a Challenge Cup Final – and I won the Lance Todd Trophy for my man of the match performance.

“But I’ve always said that I’d give that back, and the three tries, for a winning medal – that’s how much the Challenge Cup means to me.

“The Super League and Challenge Cup Final are both fantastic events – amazing showpieces for our sport. It’s a usual pub debate about which one ranks highest, for fans and players – and for me they’re both on a par. They’re very different occasions, with the Challenge Cup being so unique in that there is not a second chance - obviously lose a match and you’re out, so you have to be at your peak for every game.

“The 1996 Final, although being on the losing team, is one of two of my favourite personal Challenge Cup memories - the other being the 2003 Final for Bradford against Leeds when we lifted the Cup in the first Final at the Millennium Stadium. The roof was on and the atmosphere was absolutely unbelievable – you could literally feel it as a player.

“For me the atmosphere at the big matches, like Challenge Cup Finals, make the occasion - with fans from all the clubs attending. A final in rugby league is seen as a real celebration of our sport.

“I recall when I went over for my third try in the 1996 Final and I looked up at the old Wembley to see 30,000 Bradford Bulls going absolutely crazy! The old stadium generated such an atmosphere, and walking out of the tunnel in front of 70,000 plus fans was one of the only times I’d admit that I was ‘rocked’ in rugby league.

“I’d grown up as a young lad in New Zealand waking up at 3am to watch the big games, and at that point I realised that I was now there – about to play in a Final myself!

“I think this season’s competition promises to be another memorable one. My side, Salford, have now gone out of the competition to Wakefield, and I think the Challenge Cup could be just what the Wildcats need at the moment. You’ve got to expect them to progress to the Quarter Finals and with another favourable draw then they have got a good chance.

“If I was a betting man though, my money would go on the current Super League champions, Leeds Rhinos. On current form they’re the best team in the comp and they seem to have a hunger about them now. Their young players which came through the academy are maturing and have tasted success, and seem to want more.

“Saying that it’s such a hard competition to call, and I’d put St Helens a millimetre behind them! They’ve been so successful and I put a great deal of success down to experience, which they have in abundance, alongside some amazing young players. The nucleus of their team has remained consistent and they have a winner’s attitude.

“I fancy them to beat Warrington in what is the tie of the round. Any visiting team to Knowsley Road is in for a long day at the office. The fans are so close to the pitch, the atmosphere is good – and you’ve a team of internationals to play against while you’re there!

“But the competition may spring a surprise – look at Catalans getting to the Final last year, and this time around they’re an even better team. I suppose the unpredictable nature is another one of the Challenge Cup’s beauties.”

Robbie Paul is a brand ambassador for The Co-operative’s ‘Good For Everyone’ rugby league campaign

 

Supporters:

The most memorable final I attended was when Featherstone beat Hull.  Pre match we all thought Featherstone had no chance by the end we were all cheering them home.  I remeber the supporters banner that the team paraded around at the end of the match 'Hull have the KIwis but Featherstone have the polish'.

My most memorable moment came in the 1968/69 final between Castleford R.L.F.C  v  Salford R.L.F.C
Castleford were attacking the Salford line the ball was passed to CAS player Mal Reilly Salford's Jackie Brennen jumped on to Reilly's back in order to tackle him Reilly just tipped him over his shoulder then passed the ball to Castleford's Alan Hardisty who went under the post's for a great try . 

My best memory has to be my first ever visit to the twin towers to watch Wigan v Hull FC 1985 - What a fantastic day, meeting the different supporters, the build up and seeing the twin towers for the first time. The game was fantastic, I always remember the Henderson Gill Try,  practically a full length of the field run. It was the emergence of a great Wigan side who was to later dominate this competition in the 80's & early 90's, I was so pleased to have witnessed it.

The most memorable memory from Challenge Cup Finals that I, and possibly many Wiganers, have is the 1989 thrashing of St Helens.  For me Ellery Hanley's try in that game surpasses anything else I have seen, and I include Martin Offiah's length of the field try in 1994.  The try Ellery scored epitomised what the man was all about, pace power and control.  All encapsulated in a game that Wigan fans the world over still use as a benchmark to define true greatness.  When legends of Rugby League are talked about I can claim to have been privileged to see many.  None better than Ellery. 

1983 Challenge Cup Final. The BBC Coverage of the pre match and the camera scans to the Featherstone fans, one fan has a sign which reads “Hull for Cod… Fev for Cup” If that’s not the best sign ever I don’t know what. I believe Featherstone went on to win the trophy…