“Really classy” – Super League star slams BBC for highlighting career low and 10 month old son

For another year the Challenge Cup has been and gone in 2023 for the first time since 1986 none of Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and St Helens made the final as Leigh Leopards and Hull KR took centre stage at Wembley yesterday.

It was a great final to round off what has been a dramatic Challenge Cup in 2023.

From Harry Newman’s decision to dummy to Richie Myler back when Super League clubs entered the competition, to the cascade of red cards in the quarter-finals to two dramatic semi-finals laced with controversy, it was a Challenge Cup that had it all.

One of the most jaw dropping moments though was Josh Griffin’s red card in the quarter-final against St Helens for dissent which led to a mammoth ban and now after a move to Wakefield Trinity stands as his last appearance with Hull FC.

This moment was highlighted in a recap on BBC must to the annoyance of the player.

He took to Twitter to say:

“Nice BBC, using one of the lowest points of my career in your footage and to then put my  10 month son on TV again. Really classy.”

Nice @BBC using one of the lowest points of my career in your footage and to then put my name 10month son on Tv again. Really classy

— Josh Griffin (@joshogriffo) August 12, 2023

The final itself was a great game as Hull KR struck first. Elliot Minchella gave away that penalty but immediately made amends as he broke through and found Jez Litten in support to score.

A Tom Briscoe error nearly led to a Tom Opacic try as the ball was kicked ahead. Opacic was then tripped up by Lachlan Lam who went for the ball but it was deemed an accident and no penalty try was given.

Leigh then said anything you can do we can do better as Kai O’Donnell broke through in similar fashion finding Lachlan Lam in support to score.

Minchella’s strange day kept going as he was penalised for a hit on Ben Reynolds and the Leopards took a 10-6 lead as Hull KR went down to 12 men.

Hull KR then nailed a penalty of their own on the stroke of halftime to make it 10-8.

The second half started as the first one ended with a Hull KR penalty as Hull KR drew level at 10-all.

It was then a very tense second half as neither side gave each other an inch. Try scoring sensation Josh Charnley had a chance when he got the ball wide but was held up.

Tom Briscoe scores tries at Wembley like it’s his backyard. Today was his eighth Challenge Cup Final try in his fifth final appearance and his eighth in the last four. He struck a decisive blow in the corner for the Leopards after a sweeping move.

But that try was cancelled out when Parcell touched down to score in the 79th minute after a kick bounced off Zak Hardaker.

However, in the end it was Leigh who will lift the Challenge Cup after a golden point drop goal from Lachlan Lam won the game for the club.