Rugby League Challenge Cup Final: Hull FC vs. Wigan Warriors
Tuesday, August 6th, 2013
Following one of the most exciting rugby league competitions in recent memory, the 2013 Tetley’s Challenge Cup final is almost upon us. Ninety-six teams across five countries have been whittled down to just two – the Wigan Warriors and Hull FC – who will meet in the final at Wembley Stadium on 24 August 2013. Kick-off is at 15:00 BST, with live coverage on BBC One.
First played in the 1896-97 season, the Tetley’s Challenge Cup is the most prestigious and hotly-contested competition in the world of Rugby League, making it the highlight of the year for a sport used to playing second-fiddle to the more prominent Rugby Union. Given the knock-out nature of the competition, and the fact that teams from all levels of the sport are eligible to compete, the Challenge Cup is also famous for its upsets, making it a great opportunity for bettors. Famously this year’s finalists, Wigan, were stunned in 1998 when they were defeated 17-8 in the final by massive underdogs the Sheffield Eagles. This year’s other finalists, Hull FC, have also suffered their share of surprise failures – in particular during the 1983 final when the odds-on favourites fell to the relatively minor Featherstone Rovers 14-12.
This year Wigan Warriors are the massive favourites, having cruised into the final with a 70-0 win over London Broncos. Hull FC, on the other hand, had much more of a battle to reach Wembley, eventually scraping a 16-12 victory against defending champions Warrington Wolves.
Overall, Wigan have taken home the Challenge Cup 18 times over the years, most recently in 2011. For Hull FC, it’s eight years since they last won the tournament, a feat they’ve only managed three times in total. It’s also five years since Hull last made it to Wembley, but could this be the year we see another big upset in the Challenge Cup final?
All of this translates into some fairly predictable odds. William Hill currently have a Wigan victory at 1/4, while Hull are at 3/1 to win, with the odds for a draw at 25/1. Sky Bet have Wigan at 2/9, Hull at 3/1 and a draw at 22/1, while Ladbrokes are putting Wigan at 1/4, Hull at 10/3 and a draw at 20/1. According to Oddschecker.com, 75.2% of punters are currently backing Wigan to win, giving average odds of 3/10, while only 24.8% think Hull can take the title for an average of 3/1.
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