Challenge Cup: The answer to the competition’s problems

The Challenge Cup has lost its magic in recent years, but the answer is glaringly obvious; Super League teams need to be introduced in the early stages. 

Football’s FA Cup is probably the best cup competition in all of sports. It has jeopardy, drama and more importantly it’s filled with David vs Goliath clashes that wouldn’t happen in the everyday leagues.

This year alone in the FA Cup, we’ve seen Maidstone United down Ipswich Town to make it to the fifth round and Coventry City reach the semi-finals after beating Wolverhampton Wanderers; but these cup shocks are becoming a thing of the past in rugby league.

Last month, we saw the Super League teams enter the Challenge Cup at a stage where only four of the top Championship sides were left in the competition. In those clashes involving Championship sides, Super League teams won by a collective margin of 88 points across those four matches, and despite spirited showings from Sheffield, Halifax, Batley and Featherstone none of them made it past their Super League opposition.

The Super League teams entering the competition so late kills any sense of excitement for the fixtures, as it just feels like any ordinary round of the domestic league, rather than the standalone cup competition; which reflected in poor attendances across the eight games.

But how do we save the Challenge Cup from itself? The answer is simple, bring the Super League teams in earlier.

How to fix the Challenge Cup?

As mentioned above, the David vs Goliath clashes are what fans want to see from the cup competitions, and more importantly it generates a buzz amongst all sets of fans. Wakefield’s relegation to the Championship meant they entered the Challenge Cup early this season, and they drew amateur side Siddal. This game generated a huge feeling of excitement around the game from fans, media and from people outside of the game too. Wakefield might have ran away with the game in the end, but their amateur opponents put in a hugely competitive performance.

Hammersmith Hills Hoists were also the talk of the early stages after their great run, and their visit to the Shay not only put them in a good light but it generated a good level of excitement.

This should have got the RFL licking their lips.

These games, where professional teams travel to amateur clubs, are what the domestic cup competitions are all about; and the Super League teams entering the competition in round 2 or 3 could see this become a more regular occurrence.

Imagine the buzz if the likes of Wigan Warriors or St Helens had to travel to York Acorn or Leigh Miners. That would generate so much excitement around the game, and it would be like Christmas to the amateur clubs. Even if the ties were at the home of the Super League clubs, seeing an amateur team run out at Headingley or Craven Park would be something to behold.

It wouldn’t just be good for the teams on the day too, it would really help create a source of income for these local teams. In the FA Cup, bigger teams often give a good share of the takings to their grassroots opponents. Due to covid restrictions, virtual tickets were sold for Tottenham Hotspurs away trip to non-league side Marine back in 2019, which helped raise over £300,000 for the minnows. Imagine what could happen if Hull FC drew an amateur team and gave some of the profits back to their team.

This might have been putting the spotlight on the amateur teams, but if the Super League sides were to enter later on into the tournament we would see more Championship or League One teams playing them too. This type of game is pivotal to the success of the second and third tiers as it gives them the exposure they need against players at the top.

More regular fixtures between teams within the professional pyramid would greatly boost the quality across the lower professional divisions, which then in turn would make them a more exciting prospect and again boost the overall state of rugby league in this country. It would also create the sense of jeopardy, drama and provide the consistent David vs Goliath contests that make cup competitions so special.

The Challenge Cup is in dire need of a shot in the arm, but bringing in the Super League teams in the early rounds might just be the answer to it’s problems.