Leigh Leopards play Hull KR in the Betfred Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 12 August 2023 (3pm).
This is Leigh’s second Wembley appearance and their first for 52 years.
Leigh have won the cup on both occasions they have been in the final, in 1921 and 1971.
Hull KR have been in seven Challenge Cup Finals, five of them at Wembley. Their only win was in 1980.
Leigh have played Hull KR twice in major finals, winning on both occasions.
Here are a few facts, figures, and records to prepare you for the big day.
Leigh in Challenge Cup Finals (Played 2, Won 2)
1921- Beat Halifax 13-0 at The Cliff, Broughton (25,000)
Team: Clarkson (2 goals); Hurst, Heaton, Thomas (2 tries), Braund; W Parkinson (try), Mooney (capt); Winstanley, Cartwright, Prosser, Darwell, Coffey, Boardman.
1971- Beat Leeds 24-7 at Wembley (85,514)
Team: Eckersley (try, goal); Ferguson (5 goals), Dorrington (try), Collins, Walsh; Barrow, Murphy (capt) (2 goals and winner of Lance Todd Trophy); Watts, Ashcroft, Fiddler (goal), Grimes, Clarkson, Smethurst. Subs L Chisnall and Lester.
Hull KR in Challenge Cup Finals (Played 7, Won 1, Lost 6)
1905- Lost 6-0 to Warrington at Headingley
1925- Lost 16-3 to Oldham at Headingley
1964- Lost 13-5 to Widnes at Wembley
1980- Beat Hull 10-5 at Wembley
1981- Lost 18-9 to Widnes at Wembley
1986- Lost 15-14 to Castleford at Wembley
2015- Lost 50-0 to Leeds at Wembley
Leigh v Hull KR in Cup Finals (Played 2, Won 2)
2004- Beat Hull KR 42-14 in Northern Rail Cup Final at Rochdale (4,383)
2006- Beat Hull KR 22-18 in Northern Rail Cup Final at Blackpool (7,547)
Leigh v Hull KR in the Challenge Cup (Played 7, Won 2, Lost 5)
1982- Last 16- (a) Won 18-17
1986- Last 8- (a) Lost 25-10
1996- Last 32- (a) Won 24-0
2017- Last 32- (h) Lost 23-10
2019- Last 32- (a) Lost 14-10
2020- Last 32- (a) Lost 22-19
2021- Last 16- (a) Lost 24-18
Leigh Leopards v Hull KR in 2023 (Played 2, Won 2)
3 Mar 2023- Round 3- (a) Won 30-25
30 Jun 2023- Round 17- (h) Won 34-4
Leigh Leopards in the Challenge Cup 2023
Last 16- Wakefield Trinity (a) Won 40-12
Last 8- York (a) Won 34-14
Last 4- St Helens (at Warrington) Won 12-10
Tries (15): Briscoe 4, Charnley 3, O’Donnell 2, Amone 1, Asiata 1, Hardaker 1, Holmes 1, Leutele 1, Mellor 1
Goals (13): Reynolds 8, Hardaker 3, O’Brien 2
Hull KR in the Challenge Cup 2023
Last 16- Batley (h) Won 50-0
Last 8- Salford (h) Won 28-10
Last 4- Wigan (at Headingley) Won 11-10 (golden point)
Tries (16): Ryan 4, Kenny-Dowall 3, Linnett 3, Hall 1, Hadley 1, Lewis 1, Luckley 1, Senior 1, Zenon 1
Goals (12+1dg): Lewis 5, Milnes 4, Wood 2, Schneider 1+1dg
Leigh Leopards leading stats 2023 season
Super League: Played 21, Won 14, Lost 7, Points 489-359. Third
All games: Played 24, Won 17, Lost 7, Points 575-395
Appearances: Amone 24, Asiata 24, Briscoe 24, Lam 24, Charnley 23, Davis 23, Mulhern 23, O‘Brien 23, Hardaker 22, Ipape 20, Leutele 20, Reynolds 19, Holmes 18, Mellor 18, O’Donnell 17, Seumanufagai 17
Tries: Charnley 25, Briscoe 16, Lam 7, Amone 6, Ipape 6, O’Donnell 5, Reynolds 5
Goals: Reynolds 69, Hardaker 16
Hull KR leading stats 2023 season
Super League: Played 21, Won 11, Lost 10, points 411-412
All games: Played 24, Won 14, Lost 10, points 500-432
Appearances: Litten 23, Lewis 22, Luckley 22, King 21, Opacic 21, Parcell 21, Kennedy 20, Linnett 20, Minchella 20, Hadley 19, Hall 19, Kenny-Dowall 19, Batchelor 17, Storton 17
Tries: Hall 10, Lewis 8, Linnett 8, Opacic 8, Kenny-Dowall 7, Ryan 7, Batchelor 6, Senior 6
Goals: Coote 26, Milnes 22, Lewis 13
Leigh Leopards Players in Challenge Cup Finals
Tom Briscoe (5)
Leeds Won 2014, Won 2015 (Lance Todd Trophy winner), Won 2020
Hull Lost 2008, Lost 2013
Josh Charnley (4)
Wigan Won 2011, Won 2013, Warrington Won 2019
Warrington Lost 2018
Zak Hardaker (3)
Leeds Won 2014, Won 2015
Leeds Lost 2012
Jack Hughes (3)
Warrington Won 2019
Warrington Lost 2016, Lost 2018
Oliver Holmes (2)
Castleford Lost 2014, 2021
Matt Davis (1)
Warrington Won 2019
Ricky Leutele (1)
Huddersfield Lost 2022
Gareth O’Brien (1)
Castleford Lost 2021
Ava Seumanufagai (1)
Leeds Won 2020
Hull KR Players in Challenge Cup Finals
Ryan Hall (5)
Leeds Won 2014 (Lance Todd Trophy), Won 2015
Leeds Lost 2010, Lost 2011, Lost 2012
George King (2)
Warrington Lost 2016, Lost 2018
Jimmy Keinhorst (1)
Leeds Lost 2012
Challenge Cup Final Records
Highest score
Leeds 52, London Broncos 16 in 1999
Widest margin
50- Leeds 50-0 Hull KR in 2015
Most tries by a team
9- by Huddersfield in 1915, by Leeds in both 1999 and 2015
Most points by a losing team
32 by Bradford in 1996 (Lost 40-32 to St Helens)
Most successful fightback
14- St Helens came from 26-12 down to beat Bradford 40-32 in 1996
Highest attendance
102,568 at Odsal in 1954 (Halifax v Warrington, replay)
99,801 at Wembley in 1985 (Hull v Wigan)
Most tries by a player
5 by Tom Briscoe in 2015 (Leeds v Hull KR)
Most goals by a player
8 by Cyril Kellett (Featherstone Rovers) in 1973 and by Iestyn Harris (Leeds) in 1999
Most points by a player
20 by Neil Fox (Wakefield Trinity) in 1960, by Iestyn Harris for Leeds in 1999 and by Tom Briscoe for Leeds in 2015
