We have a look at some storylines to observe within the sixth spherical of this yr’s Betfred Problem Cup because the 12 Betfred Tremendous League golf equipment enter the competitors…
Eagles dare to dream of 1998 repeat
When the draw for the sixth spherical of this yr’s competitors was made, it paired collectively two sides who have been concerned in what proved to be arguably the best closing upset in Problem Cup historical past.
A lot has modified since Sheffield Eagles beat Wigan Warriors 17-8 at Wembley in 1998. Whereas Wigan come into this tie as reigning Tremendous League champions and winners of final month’s World Membership Problem, Sheffield haven’t performed within the prime division since 1999 following an ill-fated merger with Huddersfield Giants and being reborn as a separate entity.
Mark Aston, awarded the Lance Todd Trophy in that closing, is Sheffield head coach as of late and has performed an enormous function in holding the membership going throughout the intervening years – and now his son Cory, who performs at half-back for the Eagles, is dreaming of what could be an much more beautiful upset.
“I’m sure my dad wouldn’t like to admit it, but it would be bigger than ’98 if we did win,” Aston junior informed The Mirror forward of Friday night’s match on the DW Stadium. “It was clearly an enormous problem to beat Wigan on that day, however Sheffield have been in Tremendous League.
“I obviously don’t remember much about ’98 and my mum told me I slept the entirety of the second half, but it’s been a massive story growing up and I have heard them all. There are famous photos of me on my dad’s shoulders which, if we did get the job done, it’d be good to recreate with my lad.”
Of different Championship golf equipment to have made it via to the final 16, final yr’s 1895 Cup runners-up Batley Bulldogs welcome former head coach Craig Lingard again to the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium with Castleford Tigers on Saturday and can be aiming to make sure the Tremendous League facet stay winless in 2024.
The group which beat the Bulldogs at Wembley final yr and have been Problem Cup semi-finalists as lately as 2019, Halifax Panthers, host final yr’s Tremendous League Grand Ultimate runners-up and 2018 winners Catalans Dragons on Sunday.
How will final yr’s finalists fare?
Leigh Leopards and Hull KR produced a Problem Cup closing for the ages in 2023, with the Lancashire facet finally triumphing 17-16 due to Lance Todd Trophy winner Lachlan Lam’s drop aim in golden-point extra-time.
Each side have had differing fortunes this yr although, with the Robins as soon as once more within the prime six of the Tremendous League desk, whereas Leigh have solely received one among their 4 video games in Tremendous League thus far this yr.
That victory, nevertheless, got here final week as they trounced Hull FC 54-4 on the MKM Stadium and head coach Adrian Lam is aware of how vital that outcome was as they put together for a visit to Championship outfit Featherstone Rovers within the Problem Cup sixth spherical.
“We needed that from our key players,” Lam mentioned. “It’s always tough to come here and win, especially off the back of none out of three.
“We have kind of allowed a few comfortable tries within the first three video games this season. To carry them solely to 4 at dwelling was going to be troublesome.
“Sometimes when you’re in a bit of a rut, we will take a lot of confidence out of that.”
Hull KR, in the meantime, host a Salford Purple Devils facet on who’ve already crushed them 17-10 in Spherical 3 of the Tremendous League season, and can be with out star England half-back Mikey Lewis after he failed a head harm evaluation in final week’s win away to Huddersfield.
Head coach Willie Peters is assured his facet, which additionally reached the Tremendous League play-off semi-finals final yr, are making good progress going into Friday night time’s recreation.
“I think we’re on track to being the team that we want to be,” Peters mentioned. “We’re certainly not the finished product – there’s areas [against Huddersfield] we need to improve on.
“Whenever you have a look at groups like Wigan and St Helens, they discover methods to win once they’re not taking part in at their finest and that is what we have to get to. When issues aren’t going our manner, we have to win ugly.”
Saints and Rhinos set to fulfill once more
Having confronted off in Tremendous League at AMT Headingley final Friday, Leeds Rhinos and St Helens now conflict within the Problem Cup on the similar venue on Friday night.
Saints emerged victorious in that match after preventing again from 8-0 down for his or her fourth win of the season thus far and head coach Paul Wellens demanded enhancements forward of the rematch.
“We need to be better from our intent and how we start the game, because we very quickly lost control and it took us some time to win it back,” Wellens mentioned.
“I thought as a collective our intent around our defensive work at the start wasn’t where it needed to be, but what was there was a willingness to scramble and work hard for each other.”
The golf equipment have each tasted Wembley glory lately, with 14-time winners Leeds triumphing within the behind-closed-doors closing in 2020 and St Helens lifting the trophy for the thirteenth time the next yr.
Rhinos head coach Rohan Smith, whose father Brian coached Bradford Bulls to the 1996 Problem Cup closing the place they misplaced to Saints, acknowledged their opponents’ strengths however is aware of final week’s outcome counts for nothing.
“They’re a very good team and showed some differences in how they’ve played to previous seasons,” Smith mentioned. “They played very well, and they needed to, to be beat us.
“No two video games are the identical, so we’re trying to begin once more and regulate to any tweaks they make and make a number of of our personal.”
Warrington Wolves and London Broncos face a swift rematch as nicely after Sam Burgess’ facet triumphed 58-4 in Wimbledon final Sunday, with this week’s assembly being performed on the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday night.
The opposite all-Tremendous League tie of the spherical sees 2022 runners-up Huddersfield Giants at dwelling to Hull FC on Saturday afternoon because the Black and Whites, back-to-back cup winners in 2016 and 2017, search to finish their disappointing begin to the season.
Remaining 2024 Problem Cup spherical dates
Quarter-finals: April 11-14.
Semi-finals: Could 18-19 (Impartial venues TBC).
Ultimate: June 8 (Wembley Stadium).
Watch each match of the 2024 Betfred Tremendous League season, together with Rivals Spherical, Magic Weekend, the play-offs, and males’s, girls’s and wheelchair Grand Finals, stay on Sky Sports activities. Additionally stream with NOW.