Derek Beaumont says Challenge Cup Final was “the worst game of rugby”

In a great Challenge Cup Final that will certainly go down in history as one of the all time greats as Leigh Leopards and Hull KR battled it out for the trophy and the game went down to golden point.

Both sides deserved to win and end a long wait for a trophy and an even longer wait for a Challenge Cup.

But if you were to highlight one man who deserved to see his side win was Derek Beaumont.

He has put a lot of money into Leigh and was the mastermind behind the rebrand that has been a spring board to amazing things in 2023.

He deserved this moment and after the game Beaumont spoke about the impact jokingly calling it “the worst game of rugby.”

“I have never been through anything has hard in my entire life. It was the worst game of rugby, not in terms of quality, but for me watching, it was the toughest thing I have ever experienced,” he said on BBC.

“One word – serendipity. For those who know, know. It was our time, it is out turn. Massive respect to Hull KR because what a spectacle that is.

“We are live on the BBC in front of a massive audience for the sport, it’s mainstream.

“Nobody deserved to lose that. But wow, all these people emptied little old Leigh and we have come down here, there is leopard print everywhere – what a feeling.

“This was a won or not game for us, not win or lose, because we have won just by coming here to Wembley

“I predicted what end the first try would be scored, I put a feather by those posts and then I think of the wind blowing Tommy Makinson’s ball in that semi-final.

“Something was happening here. Serendipity, the rugby gods have been smiling on us, fate, something was just written in the stars and I think this is one.”

It was great to see two new teams take to Wembley and meet in a major final.

It certainly lived up to the hype as well as both teams battled hard and we were given plenty of drama to sink our teeth into.

It will go down as one of the greats.