The 1895 Cup has seen a huge change in format announced for the 2024 season and a new team have been confirmed as favourites to lift the trophy.
Halifax Panthers edged out Batley Bulldogs in the 2023 final at Wembley with the Bulldogs scoring an incredible last minute try only to miss the kick, eventually losing 12-10.
In winning the Panthers became the fourth different side to lift the trophy in it’s four years of existence, and now a new side are favourites to lift it in 2024.
That team is Wakefield Trinity, Trin of course playing in the tournament for the first time having been in Super League for the previous four tournaments.
Wakefield have built an incredible squad for the 2024 season in which they’ve retained plenty of Super League talent whilst also adding players such as Jermaine McGillvary and Lachlan Walmsley.
That’s seen them marked as red hot favourites to win the Championship and they’re now also heavily favoured to lift the 2024 1895 Cup.
Daryl Powell’s side have been made 4/6 favourites to win the competition whilst last season’s Championship League Leaders Shield winners Featherstone Rovers sit as second favourites at 10/1.
The tournament is no longer decided by the final four none Super League sides in the Challenge Cup, but instead a group format determines quarter finalists from which point on a knockout cup ensues.
Trinity have been drawn in a group with York Knights and relegated Newcastle Thunder, and winning that group would earn them a spot in the quarter-finals.
The new format sees seven groups of three with each group winner heading to the quarter finals as well as the second placed team with the most points.
Thunder have been priced as large as 500/1 with Sky Bet given their tough group with Wakefield in it, as well as doubts over their playing status for 2024.
Reigning champions Halifax Panthers are drawn alongside Oldham RLFC and Rochdale Hornets, the Panthers priced at 20/1 to repeat their success.
Other former winners include Sheffield Eagles who are in a group alongside Doncaster and Midlands Hurricanes, the Eagles priced as a 16/1 shot.
Below are the seven groups with the price for each team to win the overall tournament. Prices are taken from SkyBet.
Group 1
Barrow Raiders – 40/1
Whitehaven – 40/1
Workington Town – 66/1
Group 2
Bradford Bulls – 12/1
Dewsbury Rams – 25/1
Keighley Cougars – 100/1
Group 3
Newcastle Thunder – 500/1
Wakefield Trinity – 4/6
York Knights – 20/1
Group 4
Halifax Panthers – 12/1
Oldham – 20/1
Rochdale Hornets – 250/1
Group 5
Batley Bulldogs – 20/1
Featherstone Rovers – 10/1
Hunslet – 80/1
Group 6
North Wales Crusaders – 150/1
Swinton Lions – 40/1
Widnes Vikings – 14/1
Group 7
Doncaster – 33/1
Midlands Hurricanes – 200/1
Sheffield Eagles – 16/1
