Rugby League News

Assessing the Challenge Cup hangover myth as Hull KR and Warrington Wolves make Super League return

by
Sam Cook
June 12, 2025

Hull KR and Warrington Wolves return to Super League after an intense 80 minutes in the Challenge Cup Final, and we’ve looked into whether there really is any truth behind a Challenge Cup hangover.

Of course, the remaining ten teams in Super League didn’t play last week so have that natural rest advantage and their training will have been built across two weeks for the Round 14 games.

Hull KR and Warrington haven’t had the same luxury and that begs the question of whether they will suffer a Challenge Cup hangover or not.

After the semi-finals, only Hull KR won in the next round of Super League with each of Warrington, Catalans and Leigh falling to defeat. Even in their win over Huddersfield, Willie Peters’ side were only 4-0 up at the 60th minute before finishing strong.

We’ve looked at the relevant data from the last five times teams backed up after the Challenge Cup Final with the win/loss rate and the success rate of Wembley winners and Wembley losers compared.

Should Hull KR and Warrington Wolves expect a Challenge Cup hangover?

We’ve looked at the 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024 finalists and how they performed with 2021 left out on account of the fact both Castleford Tigers and St Helens had two byes before their next game.

Taking those five years, the win rate stands at 40% with Wigan Warriors proving the most successful side at backing up from the Challenge Cup to Super League.

Wigan edged out Castleford Tigers last year with a 10-8 win after having beaten Warrington, who lost to Salford Red Devils, whilst Matt Peet’s side also beat the Tigers in 2022 after winning at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Losing finalists Huddersfield also won that year as they beat Catalans on the road in a very impressive performance off the back of Challenge Cup heartbreak. The 2019 St Helens were the only other team to win, though they only managed to do so 4-0 against Castleford Tigers with the narrow victories and overwhelming loss rate suggesting Challenge Cup hangovers do exist.

Both Hull KR and Leigh Leopards lost in 2023, however, Willie Peters would be quick to point out that after their 28-6 loss to St Helens, the Robins went on to win their five remaining games of the year and one play-off game.

The 2020 Covid season, when the Challenge Cup was played a lot later, saw the biggest defeats after Wembley. Leeds lost 40-8 to St Helens whilst Salford fell 58-12 to Wigan Warriors.

Super League results after playing a Challenge Cup Final

2024 CC: Warrington Wolves 8-18 Wigan Warriors

Castleford Tigers 8-10 Wigan Warriors
Warrington Wolves 14-25 Salford Red Devils

2023 CC: Leigh Leopards 17-16 Hull KR

St Helens 28-6 Hull KR
Leigh Leopards 14-30 Catalans Dragons

2022 CC: Huddersfield Giants 14-16 Wigan Warriors

Catalans Dragons 14-22 Huddersfield Giants
Castleford Tigers 12-32 Wigan Warriors

2020 CC: Leeds Rhinos 17-16 Salford Red Devils

St Helens 40-8 Leeds Rhinos
Wigan Warriors 58-12 Salford Red Devils

2019 CC: St Helens 26-12 Warrington Wolves

Salford Red Devils 22-6 Warrington Wolves
St Helens 4-0 Castleford Tigers

Total: 4 wins, 6 losses
Winners Record: 3-2
Losers Record: 1-4

Interesting to note is that winners back up far better than losers and with Hull KR hosting struggling Catalans, whereas Warrington travel to high-flying Leeds, that trend could continue.