Stevo makes bold Challenge Cup Final prediction

There will be no Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves or St Helens in the Challenge Cup Final for the first time since 1986 as Leigh Leopards and Hull KR take centre stage at Wembley instead.

Leigh haven’t won the Challenge Cup since 1971 and a win here would be extra special given they were in the Championship a year ago and won the 1895 Cup Final last year as well.

They also made the bold step to rebrand themselves as a club and they should be commended for the success that has had.

However, it would be special to see Hull KR win a major trophy for the first time since 1985 and a first Challenge Cup since 1980.

They were involved in the 1986 final so it would be like going full circle.

Now former Sky Sports commentator Mike ‘Stevo’ Stephenson has had his say on who will win the final.

He said on the Eddie and Stevo podcast:

“Well, I favour the Leigh Leopards, which will excite all the fans at Hull Kingston Rovers. It will disappoint all of those in Leigh.

“Look, I think that when you play the week before and you’ve still got that team spirit, that coordination, it’s easy to do that.

“I’m not so sure about having a team that has not played contact football, most of them have not played contact football, for a fortnight and that that could well go against them.

“The one thing that Hulk KR have got is that Wembley is wide, so it’s your three quarters that will win you the game.

“It’s all right having a strong pack which Leigh certainly have, but it’s out wide where you win games at Wembley.”

Either way he is expecting a great game and a great occasion.

“I think it’s going to be a tremendous game and the other thing about Leigh as well, I mean, there’s talk about Papua New Guinea wanting Leigh and Adrian Lam to take the team on a tour to PNG to help lift the profile of Papua New Guinean Rugby League. Now to my way of thinking that is wonderful.”