Today is one of the two big landmark events in the rugby league calendar as the Challenge Cup Final takes centre stage.
A competition almost as old as the sport itself first taking place in 1897 two years after the Northern Union formed the sport we all love. That year West Yorkshire side Batley defeated one of the sides who would go on to become one of the all time great sides in the sport in the shape of St Helens and this year the final has a similar flavour.
Underdogs from West Yorkshire Huddersfield Giants take on the most successful side in Challenge Cup history Wigan in one of the most mouth watering finals we’ve had for years.
But where can you watch this titanic battle? The answer to that is simple: BBC One from 14:00 with the game itself kicking off at 15:00.
In truth, it is harsh to describe Huddersfield as the underdogs. They’re well in the hunt for the top four in Super League and have beaten Wigan recently. A methodical side who ground their opponents to dust, they have plenty of stars capable of steering them to success.
It feels like a new dawn at the Giants under Ian Watson who recently masterminded major final appearances for Salford both at Old Trafford and Wembley. This his second bite at the cherry in the cup at a new stadium, he is starting to turn the club into a real powerhouse after a rocky start in 2021.
The Giants are looking to cement themselves as a major player in Super League – a status they deserve as the birthplace of rugby league – and Watson is on his way to doing so and winning the Challenge Cup in their first final since 2009 would certainly do so and would end a 69-year wait for success in the tournament.
As for Wigan, they’ve sat back and watched rivals St Helens dominant the sport in recent years looking to get back on top. They haven’t won a major final since 2018 which is unlike them. Even more out of character is the fact they haven’t won the cup since 2013 only contesting one final in the nine years since.
Like the Giants, they’re at the exciting start of a promising project under Matt Peet who has them playing good rugby and seeming like a genuine threat to St Helens and winning the cup would cement this.
But which side will lift the trophy later today? Time will tell.
