Jon Wilkin picks Challenge Cup favourites with ‘pressure’s on’ verdict

Pundit Jon Wilkin has named the side who he thinks are now Challenge Cup favourites after the shock exit of Wigan Warriors.

Hull FC’s 26-22 win over the holders has opened the competition right up with six of the eight remaining teams being priced as shorter than 10/1 to lift the trophy at Wembley.

The Black and Whites are one of those teams however they will face a tough route to Wembley after being drawn at home to their cross-city rivals Hull KR for the quarter-finals.

That tie is one of a couple of bumper games in the quarter-finals with last year’s beaten finalists Warrington Wolves drawn at home to St Helens, Wakefield hosting 2023 winners Leigh Leopards and Catalans facing Salford Red Devils.

Times and dates for those fixtures will be confirmed soon but they will be held on the weekend of April 4th to April 6th with the BBC set to air two of the matches.

The BBC conducted the draw on Monday night on BBC Radio 5 Live with Adrian Morley and Jon Wilkin picking the teams and Wilkin has now had his say on who are the favourites.

Jon Wilkin picks Challenge Cup favourites with ‘pressure’s on’ verdict

Speaking prior to the ties had even been drawn Wilkin was asked to name his fancy to lift the trophy at Wembley in June with the Hull-born pundit backing his former club.

“Hull KR, for me,” he said, before explaining why with their Round Four victory over St Helens certainly impressing the pundit.

He argued: “Hull KR really just bumbled through two or three rounds at the start of the year and then they’ve gone to St Helens and stuck one on St Helens.

“They’ve not just stuck one on St Helens, it was such a play-off Grand Final-like big game performance.

“Everything was pointing to St Helens, they’ve signed well, Tristan Sailor has come and it’s this new era for St Helens and then Hull KR just put a pin in it, deflated it and just moved on. It was so professional.”

Underlining his argument, Wilkin said: “I think there was a question mark if they would be around to stay at the top and after the first three games I wasn’t sure if they had the pedigree to go back and do it again, but then the performance against St Helens.

“It’s different doing it when there’s no pressure but there is pressure on Hull KR now.”

Four-time Challenge Cup winner Adrian Morley agreed whilst also throwing another name forward.

“I agree that Hull KR will be one of the favourites but I like Leigh Leopards as well,” said Morley.

“The fact that they’ve went down there to Wembley a couple of years ago and a lot of them boys played, that will be in their mind. When you’ve had success, it can only be a positive thing so I think Leigh will be excited.”