How Challenge Cup finalists have fared in Super League

Hull KR are the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup winners, after a dramatic 8-6 victory over Warrington Wolves.

The Robins ended a 40 year wait for major silverware at Wembley Stadium last Saturday and went on to lift their first Challenge Cup trophy since 1980.

With the 2025 competition over for another year, attention turns to the second half of the Betfred Super League season, the race for the top six and the biggest night in the Rugby League calendar, the Super League Grand Final on October 12.

And we were wondering - how have the Challenge Cup Finalists fared in Super League afterwards?

? @hullkrofficial are the 2025 @Betfred #ChallengeCup winners! pic.twitter.com/6nMWxgeCoC

— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) June 7, 2025

Did you know there have been four teams who went on to win the treble after winning the Challenge Cup in the same season?

These were Bradford Bulls in 2003, St Helens in 2006, Leeds Rhinos in 2015 and Wigan Warriors in 2024.

Then, there are two teams who have won the Challenge Cup and the Grand Final but not the League Leaders’ Shield. These were Wigan in 2013 and St Helens in 2021.

There are three teams who have won the Challenge Cup but gone on to lose the Grand Final. These were St Helens in 2007 and 2008 and Warrington in 2012.

And only two teams have ever won the Challenge Cup and missed out on the Play-Offs/Top 8, and these were Sheffield Eagles in 1998 and Warrington in 2009.

Let's take a look at the full lists...

CHALLENGE CUP WINNERS:

1996 – St Helens won the Challenge Cup and League Leaders’ Shield

1997 – St Helens won the Challenge Cup and finished 3rd in Super League

1998 – Sheffield Eagles on the Challenge Cup and finished 8th in Super League (missed the Play-Offs)

1999 – Leeds Rhinos won the Challenge Cup and made the Play-Offs

2000 – Bradford Bulls won the Challenge Cup and made the Play-Offs

2001 – St Helens won the Challenge Cup and made the Play-Offs

2002 – Wigan Warriors won the Challenge Cup and made the Play-Offs

2003 – Bradford Bulls won the Challenge Cup, League Leaders’ Shield and Grand Final

2004 – St Helens won the Challenge Cup and made the Play-Offs

2005 – Hull FC won the Challenge Cup and made the Play-Offs

2006 – St Helens won the Challenge Cup, League Leaders’ Shield and Grand Final

2007 - St Helens won the Challenge Cup, League Leaders’ Shield and lost the Grand Final

2008 - St Helens won the Challenge Cup, League Leaders’ Shield and lost the Grand Final

2009 – Warrington Wolves won the Challenge Cup and finished 10th in Super League (missed the Play-Offs)

2010 – Warrington Wolves won the Challenge Cup and made the Play-Offs

2011 – Wigan Warriors won the Challenge Cup and made the Play-Offs

2012 – Warrington Wolves won the Challenge Cup and lost the Grand Final

2013 – Wigan Warriors won the Challenge Cup and lost the Grand Final

2014 – Leeds Rhinos won the Challenge Cup and made the Play-Offs

2015 – Leeds Rhinos won the Challenge Cup, League Leaders’ Shield and lost the Grand Final

2016 – Hull FC won the Challenge Cup and made the Play-Offs

2017 – Hull FC won the Challenge Cup and made the Play-Offs

2018 – Catalans Dragons won the Challenge Cup and made the Top 8 (but not the Play-Offs)

2019 – Warrington Wolves won the Challenge Cup and made the Play-Offs

2020 – Leeds Rhinos won the Challenge Cup and made the Play-Offs

2021 – St Helens won the Challenge Cup and Grand Final

2022 – Wigan Warriors won the Challenge Cup and made the Play-Offs

2023 – Leigh Leopards won the Challenge Cup and made the Play-Offs

2024 – Wigan Warriors won the Challenge Cup, League Leaders’ Shield and won the Grand Final

2025 – Hull KR have won the Challenge Cup, but what lies ahead for the Robins?

CHALLENGE CUP LOSERS:

1996 – Bradford Bulls lost the Challenge Cup Final and finished 3rd

1997 – Bradford Bulls lost the Challenge Cup Final but won the League Leaders’ Shield

1998 – Wigan Warriors lost the Challenge Cup Final but won the Grand Final

1999 – London Broncos lost the Challenge Cup Final and finished 8th

2000 – Leeds Rhinos lost the Challenge Cup Final but made the Play-Offs

2001 – Bradford lost the Challenge Cup Final but won the League Leaders’ Shield and the Grand Final

2002 – St Helens lost the Challenge Cup Final but won the League Leaders’ Shield and the Grand Final

2003 – Leeds Rhinos lost the Challenge Cup Final but made the Play-Offs

2004 – Wigan Warriors lost the Challenge Cup Final but made the Play-Offs

2005 – Leeds Rhinos lost the Challenge Cup Final and lost the Grand Final

2006 – Huddersfield lost the Challenge Cup Final and missed the Play-Offs

2007 – Catalans lost the Challenge Cup Final and missed the Play-Offs

2008 – Hull FC lost the Challenge Cup Final and missed the Play-Offs

2009 – Huddersfield Giants lost the Challenge Cup Final and made the Play-Offs

2010 – Leeds Rhinos lost the Challenge Cup Final and made the Play-Offs

2011 – Leeds lost the Challenge Cup Final and won the Grand Final

2012 – Leeds Rhinos lost the Challenge Cup Final and won the Grand Final

2013 – Hull FC lost the Challenge Cup Final and made the Play-Offs

2014 – Castleford Tigers lost the Challenge Cup Final and made the Play-Offs

2015 – Hull KR lost the Challenge Cup Final and missed the Play-Offs (ended up in the Super 8s Qualifiers)

2016 – Warrington Wolves lost the Challenge Cup Final but won the League Leaders’ Shield. They then lost the Grand Final

2017 – Wigan Warriors lost the Challenge Cup Final and finished 6th (Super 8s era)

2018 – Warrington Wolves lost the Challenge Cup Final but lost the Grand Final

2019 – St Helens lost the Challenge Cup Final but won the League Leaders’ Shield and the Grand Final

2020 – Salford Red Devils lost the Challenge Cup Final and missed the Play-Offs

2021 – Castleford Tigers lost the Challenge Cup Final and missed the Play-Offs

2022 – Huddersfield Giants lost the Challenge Cup Final but made the Play-Offs

2023 – Hull KR lost the Challenge Cup Final but made the Play-Offs

2024 – Warrington Wolves lost the Challenge Cup Final but made the Play-Offs

2025 – Warrington Wolves lost the Challenge Cup Final, can they save their Super League season?

Round 14 of the Betfred Super League next gets underway on Friday 13 June. Information regarding dates, venues and kick-off times can be found here.

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