AI has predicted the 2025 Challenge Cup round by round including Leeds Rhinos and Hull FC shocks

The 2025 season is fast approaching and it all gets underway with the Challenge Cup. The competition gets started over the weekend of January 11 and runs until June 7 when the remaining two teams will compete for the trophy at Wembley.

The first round will be played out between community and amateur teams before League One and Championship sides enter the fray in the second round. Ultimately, 20 teams will progress to round three, where Super League teams will enter the competition.

That round will be played the week before the start of the league campaign, over the weekend of February 8, and that ensures every top flight outfit will be in Challenge Cup action before Super League’s opening fixtures. All 12 Super League sides will be drawn away from home in a seeded draw to give lower league teams the opportunity of a money-spinning home tie.

With that in mind, we asked Chat GPT to predict how the Challenge Cup might pan out in 2025, starting with round three. The AI tool named a potential winner and went as far as to predict which man would score a decisive late try in the final.

It also named two Super League giants it believes could be on the wrong end of a Cup upset, with a Championship team progressing to the quarter-finals stage. Check out how Chat GPT sees the 2025 Challenge Cup going below:

Here’s a hypothetical prediction for the 2025 Challenge Cup, starting from Round 3, based on the format where all 12 Super League teams enter the competition at this stage and are drawn to play away against lower-tier teams:

Round 3 (February 8–9, 2025)

Match-Ups: Super League clubs face winners from Rounds 1 and 2 (amateur, League 1, and Championship teams).

Key Matches:

St Helens vs Batley Bulldogs

Wigan Warriors vs London Broncos

Warrington Wolves vs York Knights

Leeds Rhinos vs Featherstone Rovers

Predictions: Most Super League teams advance comfortably, but a couple of upsets occur due to home advantage for the lower-tier teams.

Upset: Featherstone stuns Leeds in a close game.

Dark Horse: York Knights give Warrington a scare but fall short.

Round 4 (March 15–16, 2025)

Match-Ups: 16 winners from Round 3 compete. Super League teams face tougher challenges against top Championship sides.

Key Matches:

St Helens vs Hull KR

Catalans Dragons vs Widnes Vikings

Hull FC vs Featherstone Rovers

Predictions: Super League sides dominate, but a resilient Featherstone team knocks out Hull FC to keep their fairytale run alive.

Biggest Win: St Helens crush Hull KR.

Closest Match: Catalans edge Widnes in extra time.

Quarter-Finals (April 5–6, 2025)

Match-Ups: 8 teams remain. Expect primarily Super League teams with possibly one or two Championship dark horses.

Key Matches:

St Helens vs Warrington Wolves

Wigan Warriors vs Catalans Dragons

Salford Red Devils vs Huddersfield Giants

Featherstone Rovers vs Leigh Leopards

Predictions:

St Helens defeat Warrington: A comfortable win for the Saints.

Wigan edge Catalans: A fiery encounter sees Wigan prevail.

Huddersfield beat Salford: Huddersfield’s defense proves too strong.

Leigh crush Featherstone: The Leopards end Featherstone’s dream run.

Semi-Finals (May 10–11, 2025)

Match-Ups:

St Helens vs Huddersfield Giants

Wigan Warriors vs Leigh Leopards

Predictions:

St Helens dominate Huddersfield: The Saints’ experience and composure shine in a 28-10 victory.

Wigan defeat Leigh in a thriller: Wigan edge their local rivals in a high-scoring match, 24-20.

Final (June 7, 2025, at Wembley Stadium)

St Helens vs Wigan Warriors

Prediction:

A classic showdown between two rugby league giants. St Helens’ consistency and clinical finishing give them a 22-18 win over Wigan, with Jack Welsby scoring a decisive late try.

This hypothetical prediction assumes some upsets but ultimately sees the strongest Super League teams prevail.