Challenge Cup Final 2019 - A Rugby League Extravaganza

Warrington Wolves defied the odds in Saturday's Coral Challenge Cup Final to overcome strong favourites St Helens, putting an end to a run of six straight final defeats for the Cheshire club. The final, attended by 62,717 was a fantastic advert for everything that makes Rugby League such a unique sport, and is the topic of this first-hand account of the Wolves' ninth Challenge Cup win.

As a lifelong, die-hard Leeds Rhinos fan, some may be questioning the logic of my decision to attend Saturday's final, a game played over 200 miles from my home, between two teams from the other side of The Pennines - neither of which I have any real link to (bar a Great Auntie from Warrington). There were many reasons behind my decision to make the long journey to the capital for the final, and indeed for my attendance at twelve of the past thirteen finals, but the primary factor is that the Challenge Cup is not just a relentless arm wrestle between the best teams in the country, it is more than that. It is a celebration of Rugby League. It is the sport's 'Big Day Out', and it is a tradition that has lasted for well over a century. I attended the final because as well as being a Leeds Rhinos fan, I am a Rugby League fan, and Saturday's final did not disappoint - it was a celebration of everything that makes our sport so special, and we should cherish it.

As I walked up Wembley Way with my Dad before the game, I was engulfed by the same raw feeling of excitement and anticipation as I was at my first final twelve years ago (although admittedly, with less energy than I did as a seven-year-old). Hosting the final at Wembley Stadium is so valuable not only to the experience of the occasion, but also to the sport itself. Recently, calls have increased for the final to be moved from Wembley in order to make it more accessible to fans, but Wembley is a big part of what makes the final so special - it provides an opportunity for the best players in the game to play at one of the biggest and most famous arenas in the world, whilst promoting the game to new markets. Rugby League has a special relationship with Wembley that few other sports can claim to enjoy, as represented fittingly by a marvelous statue depicting some of the greatest moments in the competition's rich history. It would be a huge shame to see that relationship end.

I'm sure I speak on behalf of other fans when I describe the pride of seeing the vast collection of fans in Rugby League shirts not just on Wembley Way, but around London itself on August Bank Holiday Weekend. There are very few opportunities for the 'Rugby League Family' to gather and enjoy the sport together, but Wembley must be the greatest of all those opportunities. The spectacle of Wembley Way lined by thousands of fans from a vast range of clubs (not just those clubs involved in the final) is certainly a sight to behold, and its carnival-like atmosphere greatly contributes to the sense of occasion. On Saturday, I came across fans of St Helens, Warrington, Leeds, Wigan, Hull and Hull KR (who are always well represented regardless of the teams involved in the final), Wakefield, Widnes, Sheffield, Bradford, London, Whitehaven, Keighley, Swinton, Featherstone and more, as well as several amateur teams. It was particularly pleasing to see Bradford and Keighley fans, whose clubs have faced so many off-field perils in recent times, as well as to see a number of London Broncos fans - proof that the game has grown significantly in the capital (to which we owe the Challenge Cup so much). The Challenge Cup Final is a fantastic day out for fans of all clubs, big or small, because it brings together such a diverse group of fans united by one common passion - Rugby League! To lose that sense of occasion would be extremely damaging to the sport.

Upon reaching my seat at the Warrington end of the ground, I found myself sat amongst fans of St Helens and Wigan as well, at which point I knew that an afternoon of good humour and good company was guaranteed, and I was not disappointed. Naturally, given Leeds' misfortune and toil this season, I was subject to lighthearted jokes at my beloved Leeds' expense, but the unique nature of Rugby League rivalry ensured there was no animosity involved, and an enjoyable afternoon was had by all (except for the Saints fans of course). I can also confirm that despite recent events involving a tiny minority of Warrington fans which have dented their reputation, the Wolves fans in attendance on Saturday did their club and the sport proud, and I hope they enjoyed their success. The 'Rugby League Family' to which I refer, is a concept that does not exist in many other sports. Time and time again we witness extreme hostility between fans at football matches, which take away from the on-field spectacle. That is not to say that Rugby League is not without its own controversies, or indeed rivalries, but on the whole, Rugby League is a family friendly sport that respects, appreciates and looks after its own. This was evident for everyone to see on Saturday, as the sport came together to remember the life of 20-year-old Batley Bulldogs halfback Archie Bruce with a minute's applause, who so tragically passed away just hours after his debut last weekend. It is not the first time I have been moved emotionally by the benevolence of Rugby League at the Challenge Cup Final. Lizzie Jones' moving rendition of 'Abide With Me' in 2015 in memory of her late husband Welsh International Danny Jones also represented the sport's unity and uniqueness.

The match itself was a fantastic sporting tale. Although it was not so much a 'David and Goliath' like affair, as was seen in Sheffield Eagles' defeat of Wigan in the 1998 final, there was a strong narrative of the underdog overcoming the favourite. St Helens have looked unstoppable at times this season in their barnstorming march to winning the League Leaders' Shield, as Justin Holbrook has combined the club's exciting homegrown talents such as Mark Percival, Regan Grace, Tommy Makinson and Jonny Lomax with overseas stars like Fijian International Kevin Naiqama and Lachlan Coote, and rampant forwards Alex Walmsley and Luke Thompson, led fantastically by James Roby, to form a ruthless rugby league machine. Despite sitting behind Saints in second place, many pundits and fans alike wrote off the Wolves' chances of success following a run of five-straight defeats in the League, three defeats to Saints this season alone and a run of six-straight final defeats stretching back to October 2012, as well as the absence through injury of star player Blake Austin. However, while Saints showed their nerves, the Wolves, inspired by the Man of the Match performance of England Hooker Daryl Clark, rose to the challenge and played the occasion perfectly to claim their ninth Challenge Cup crown. The final encapsulated the unpredictability nature of Rugby League, proving that no side should ever be written off.

At this year's final, we were graced with the presence of HRH The Duke of Sussex Prince Harry, who greeted the players before the game and presented victorious captains Chris Hill and Jack Hughes with the trophy, as part of his new role as patron of the RFL. The Prince's appearance has the potential to be a huge boost for the sport's profile, and was a welcome addition to proceedings at Wembley. The pre-match promotion of the game by comedians Jonny Vegas and Adam Hills (Saints and Warrington supporters respectively) also drew greater attention to the game and hopefully succeeded in attracting outside interest in the final, as well as the appearances of Tony Adams and Stuart Pierce. Another addition to this year's showpiece was the staging of the newly created 1895 Cup Final after the game. Unfortunately, due to logistical reasons, I was unable to stay for Sheffield Eagles' 36-18 comeback victory over Widnes Vikings, but the match saw two former Challenge Cup winning sides make their first appearance at Wembley this century. The 1895 Cup is a welcome addition to Rugby League, as it offers teams a chance to shine under the famous White Arch - a highly improbable opportunity if it were not for the cup's introduction this year. It was nice therefore to see so many Widnes fans take the opportunity to see their side play at such an iconic stadium once more. Furthermore, having three matches (including the traditional schools' curtain-raiser) on one pitch, on one day, on national TV ensured that Saturday really was a Rugby League Extravaganza

I would like to end this piece by reasserting how special the Challenge Cup Final is, and why it must be protected, despite moving to a new weekend next season. Whilst we, as rugby league fans, love a good moan and love to hate certain characters and teams within the game, it is important every now and then to step back and remember how lucky we are to have such an inclusive, friendly and captivating sport to call our own. Saturday was one of those moments. I would like to think that if there were any first-time fans of Rugby League, or anyone previously unfamiliar with our great game in attendance on Saturday, or indeed watching on TV, they would have enjoyed their first rugby league experience. I would hope that they experienced a passionate sport which cares for its own and witnessed a thrilling game battled out between two fantastic sides made up of players from diverse backgrounds and cultures all over the world.

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