It will be a hot one at Wembley today, not least in the recently-formed rivalry between Hull KR and Wigan Warriors but also because the temperature is expected to push towards 30 degrees celsius, with 40% humidity thrown into the mix as well.
Super League games are often attritional, especially at the start of the season in the cold February and March, but today could be a different prospect with the heat that beats down on the Wembley turf set to sap energy from the players, in particular each side’s forward pack.
That will be one factor for each side to navigate but how they do so could be different and we’ve looked at each team’s best route to victory, with some other final thoughts on today’s Challenge Cup Final offered up.
Challenge Cup routes to victory
Wigan Warriors
Matt Peet’s side are seeking a first Challenge Cup trophy since 2024, with Peet landing his first at the club in his first season, back in 2022. A win today would mean we can likely book Wigan in for the 2028 Challenge Cup as well given the two-year pattern emerging.
However, today is about much more than that for Wigan with the Warriors surely keen to reclaim their mantle as the top club in the country, something they proudly could claim to be after their incredible 2024.
Then came 2025 and the year of the Robin as Hull KR followed in the Warriors’ path, winning all domestic trophies, including the Grand Final against Wigan, before winning the World Club Challenge earlier this year.
It means Hull KR are now seeking a fifth consecutive piece of silverware. Wigan famously won six in a row between the 2023 League Leaders Shield and the 2024 Grand Final, so stopping Hull KR closing in on their record is of huge importance and Harry Smith could be the key.
On a hot day and on a big pitch like Wembley, Smith’s boot will be of huge value. You only have to look at how close Warrington came to beating KR last year thanks to the boot of Marc Sneyd to realise that the blueprint for Wigan is already out there.
Kick long, kick smart and suffocate Hull KR on their own goal line with hard yards and hard carries, hoping they’ll fatigue and let slide an opportunity. That’s a very simplified game plan but sometimes the best plans are the simple ones.
Hull KR
After what happened last year, Hull KR will know that Wigan have the blueprint so for them it’s about stopping Harry Smith by doing what they do best and that’s relentless defence.
The Robins were in line to break the Super League record for the best defence last year before a blip against Wakefield in round 26 saw them miss out, however, it’s still a major characteristic of their play.
They will likely start with Karl Lawton at hooker ahead of Jez Litten, as they did last year with Micky McIlorum, with the logic behind that being a fast and physical start that can help punch holes in Wigan before the magician Litten comes into the fray.
From there, Litten will likely see the final 60 minutes of the game out with Lawton serving as a bench forward to help rotate the forward pack who will get through plenty of work.
Like Wigan, Hull KR will need to rely on their kicking game too and young winger Noah Hodkinson could be a target to expose but there’s no doubting that if Hull KR win today, the foundations will be laid in the first 20 minutes with relentless defence.
Key moments
So far, both plans have been fairly rudimentary and cup finals can be like that, simply about doing the basics and hoping for an opponent mistake.
However, that’s where your own star players can step up as we saw in the last two Grand Finals between these clubs. In 2024 Bevan French skinned Mikey Lewis for the only try of the game whilst in 2025, Lewis returned the favour to kickstart the game for Hull KR.
Before that had been a big mistake from both French and captain Liam Farrell, both who bombed near-certain tries and in heat like today, brain fades and mistakes can happen.
Simply put, the side that ices their moments and responds to mistakes the best will come out on top but whether that happens inside 80 minutes, or if we need golden point, is still to be seen.
It’s Game Day 🏉@wembleystadium is ready and waiting 🏟️#ChallengeCup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/T1xcm41F2f
— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) May 30, 2026
