Favourites to win the 2023 Challenge Cup revealed with Super League sides given huge odds

The Challenge Cup final is set to return to Wembley and we’re less than two weeks away from the draw for the first and second round, but who do the bookmakers fancy to lift the prestigious trophy?

In 2022 we saw the final contested at Tottenham Hotspurs’ ground but the trophy returns to Wembley for 2023, the venue that has traditionally held the final since the 1929 tournament.

An attendance of 41,500 watched Wigan beat Dewsbury 13-2 that year and Wigan won it again in 2022 as they defeated Huddersfield Giants by a score of 16-14.

Wigan have won the trophy in 20 of the 120 seasons that it has been contested and to retain their crown they’re priced at 9/2.

That ranks second favourite in the market behind the dominant Super League team of the recent times, St Helens, who are priced at 7/2 and are favourites to secure the silverware.

Despite the four consecutive Grand Final victories for the Red Vee they’ve only won it once in the last decade, 2021, but were hugely successful during the 2000s, lifting the trophy in 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Since Saints back to back victories two other teams have defended their crown with Leeds Rhinos winning in 2014 and 2015 before Hull FC took the mantle in 2016 and 2017. That pair are priced 6/1 and 10/1 respectively, marking the third and sixth best supported teams in the market.

It’s no surprise that the first 12 teams in the market are all Super League sides with the 2022 runner-up Huddersfield priced at 12s ahead of the largest priced Super League sides, Hull KR and Leigh Leopards at 25/1 and Wakefield Trinity at 33/1.

The most memorable run in recent times for a side from outside the Super League was when St Helens faced Halifax in 2019 in the semi-finals but the West Yorkshire side couldn’t make their first final since 1988.

French outfit, Toulouse Olympique, lead the betting outside of the top flight priced at 50/1 whilst Featherstone Rovers are the only other side priced under 100s, as they boast odds of 66/1.

All odds are taken from Betfred, prices correct as of 02/01/23 –  selected prices only

St Helens – 7/2
Wigan Warriors – 9/2
Leeds Rhinos – 6/1
Catalans Dragons – 6/1
Warrington Wolves – 8/1
Hull FC – 10/1
Castleford Tigers – 12/1
Huddersfield Giants – 12/1
Salford Red Devils – 16/1
Hull KR – 25/1
Leigh Leopards – 25/1
Wakefield Trinity – 33/1
Toulouse Olympique – 50/1
Featherstone Rovers – 66/1
Halifax Panthers – 100/1
Bradford Bulls – 15-/1
York City Knights – 150/1
Batley Bulldogs – 150/1
Widnes Vikings – 200/1
London Broncos – 250/1
Sheffield Eagles – 250/1
Newcastle Thunder – 250/1
Barrow Raiders – 250/1
Dewsbury Rams – 500/1
Keighley Cougars – 500/1