Wigan Warriors will have to break a six-year trend if they’re to beat Hull KR in the Challenge Cup Final on Saturday, with recent history suggesting that the Robins will defend their title.
The 2026 Challenge Cup Final pits the last two winners against each other in a game that is also a repeat of the 2025 Super League Grand Final, which Willie Peters’ side won 24-6.
Wigan were the favourites heading into that game but the bookmakers are favouring Hull KR at Wembley on Sunday, and for the Warriors, that spells bad news.
The last six Challenge Cup finals have been won by the pre-match favourite and at this early stage in the week, it is currently Hull KR who hold the slim favouritism with the bookmakers.
At the time of writing, Challenge Cup sponsors BetFred have Hull KR as 4/5 to lift the famous trophy, with Wigan priced at 6/5. If the Warriors come out on top as betting underdogs, they will be the first team to do so since Warrington Wolves in 2019 when they beat St Helens.
Wire were a far bigger underdog that day and it’s worth noting that as the week progresses, favouritism could well shift, particularly in light of Hull KR’s injury concerns surrounding Karl Lawton, Dean Hadley and Jai Whitbread.
In the six Challenge Cup finals since Warrington’s win over St Helens, the favourite has lifted the trophy on each occasion, even in the 2023 draw golden point win for Leigh against Hull KR. Despite the game ending as a draw, the fancied Leopards won thanks to Lachlan Lam’s drop goal.
It’s worth noting that Wigan are the shortest price of any betting underdog in the past few years and with the market still likely to move, they could grow shorter or even become favourites.
Challenge Cup Final favourites record since 2019
2026: Wigan Warriors (6/5) v Hull KR (4/5)
2025: Warrington Wolves 6-8 Hull KR (2/7)
2024: Warrington Wolves 8-18 Wigan Warriors (1/2)
2023: Hull KR 16-17 Leigh Leopards (4/7* to win the game, match a draw but Leigh won in golden point)
2022: Huddersfield Giants 14-16 Wigan Warriors (2/5)
2021: Castleford Tigers 12-26 St Helens (2/9)
2020: Salford Red Devils 16-17 Leeds Rhinos (1/3)
2019: St Helens 4-18 Warrington Wolves (3/1)
John
May 27, 2026 at 9:45 am
Not really surprising statistic as the great game is easier to predict than, say, football – but it’s played on the pitch, not in the bookies.