Key Points
- Holders Hull KR visit Huddersfield
- 21-time winners Wigan host Bradford
- Goole face Wolves challenge
Challenge Cup Fourth Round Betting
There will be a break from
Super League
this weekend with the return of the Challenge Cup with eight matches taking place over Friday and Saturday.
Hull Kingston Rovers are the current holders of the Challenge Cup after beating Warrington Wolves at Wembley Stadium last season. They will face Huddersfield Giants for the second week running after beating them 32-6 in Super League.
The Wolves face the lowest ranked team in the competition in Goole Vikings. The game was originally supposed to be held in Goole, but for a bigger crowd they have decided to move it to Warrington.
Wigan Warriors - who have won the Challenge Cup 21 times - face Bradford Bulls in another all-Super League encounter with the Bulls facing Wigan for the first time since they were relegated in 2014.
There are three more all-Super League affairs taking place with St Helens travelling to Castleford Tigers, Wakefield Trinity hosting Leeds Rhinos and Leigh Leopards entertaining Hull FC. The two remaining fixtures will see Catalans Dragons take on Oldham and York Knights facing Keighley Cougars.
David Kuzio
is our rugby league expert and RL author here at Betting.co.uk. Last week he got six out of seven in his big Super League acca. Below is his predictions for the fourth round and who he thinks will win the tournament.
Wigan Warriors vs Bradford Bulls - Friday, March 13th 20:00 GMT
It has been quite a while since Wigan and Bradford locked horns in a competitive encounter. they last played each other in Super League in 2014, but they will meet in the famous Challenge Cup on Friday evening.
The bookmakers have Wigan as massive favourites to win this game, and normally I would agree that it would be a comfortable victory for the home team. However, Wigan have some injury issues with Jai Field, Bevan French and Jake Wardle all out, while the Bulls have a point to prove that they deserve their place in Super League.
The Bulls have started the league campaign with two wins and two defeats, while the Warriors are unbeaten with four successive wins. This is the Challenge Cup and anything can happen. I am predicting a win for Wigan, but it will not be the walkover that the bookies are looking at.
Bradford have some problems of their own with Loghan Lewis and Elliott Peposhi both suspended. I can see them giving Wigan a game for an hour or so, but the Warriors will have too much quality and will book their place in the quarter-finals.
Wigan are the 1/9 favourites with Betfred, while Bradford are 6/1 outsiders. I am backing winger Zach Eckersley to grab the opening try of the game at odds of 6/1. Other players I am expecting to score tries include Adam Keighran and Jack Farrimond.
Wigan Warriors vs Bradford Bulls Betting Tips
Wigan to win - 1/9 @ Betfred
Zach Eckersley to score first try - 6/1 @ Betfred
Adam Keighran to score any time - 5/4 @ Betfred
Jack Farrimond to score any time - 6/5 @ Betfred
Betfred Highlights
- Variety of betting markets
- "Pick Your Punt" feature
- Daily draw prizes of £800 from a £1 stake
WIGAN WARRIORS v BRADFORD BULLS
Last 10 meetings:
Bradford 16, Wigan 8 (SLR22, 27/7/14)
Wigan 84, Bradford 6 (SLR10, 21/4/14)
Wigan 26, Bradford 20 (SLR21, 5/7/13)
Bradford 6, Wigan 36 (SLR12, 14/4/13)
Wigan 22, Bradford 30 (SLR19, 29/6/12)
Bradford 16, Wigan 54 (SLR3, 19/2/12)
Wigan 60, Bradford 12 (SLR25, 19/8/11)
Bradford 22, Wigan 26 (CCR5, 22/5/11)
Bradford 10, Wigan 44 (SLR2, 20/2/11)
Wigan 34, Bradford 12 (SLR27, 3/9/10)
Previous Challenge Cup meetings:
2011 (Round 5) Bradford 22 Wigan 26
2003 (Semi-Final) Bradford 36 Wigan 22
(at McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield)
1993 (Semi-Final) Bradford 6 Wigan 15
(at Elland Road, Leeds)
1992 (Semi-Final) Bradford 10 Wigan 71
(at Burnden Park, Bolton)
1991 (Quarter Final) Wigan 32 Bradford 2
1989 (Round 2) Bradford 4 Wigan 17
1988 (Round 1) Wigan 2 Bradford 0
1985 (Quarter Final) Bradford 6 Wigan 7
1978 (Round 2) Wigan 10 Bradford 22
1973 (Quarter Final) Bradford 11 Wigan 7
1966 (Quarter Final) Bradford 6 Wigan 15
1954 (Round 2) Wigan 15 Bradford 10
1952 (Round 2) Wigan 28 Bradford 12
1948 (FINAL) Bradford 3 Wigan 8
(at Wembley Stadium)
1944 (FINAL, Second Leg) Bradford 8 Wigan 0
1944 (FINAL, First Leg) Wigan 3 Bradford 0
1943 (Round 1, Second Leg) Bradford 18 Wigan 3
1943 (Round 1, First Leg) Wigan 6 Bradford 5
1939 (Quarter Final) Wigan 7 Bradford 0
1915 (Round 2) Bradford 3 Wigan 11
Leigh Leopards vs Hull FC
Leigh and Hull lock horns on Saturday for a place in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup, but neither side will be able to field a full-strength team.
The Leopards and Black and Whites have had a poor start to their Super League campaign with both teams winning one and losing three. Form can improve, but at the moment it is injuries that are making things harder.
Leigh coach Adrian Lam will field a team on Saturday without David Armstrong, Bailey Hodgson, Umyla Hanley, Joe Ofahengaue, Edwin Ipape, Aron Pene, AJ Towse and Nathan Wilde.
That is a lot of injuries for so early in the season, meaning the likes of Lachlan Lam and Adam Cook will have to do most of the organising. Tesi Niu is still a controversial selection following off-the-field allegations in his personal life from the end of last year.
Adrian Lam continues to pick him and he is backed by the Leigh fans, but opposing supporters are determined to give him a hard time with insults and songs aimed at him every time he touches the ball.
Hull also have plenty of injuries to contend with. Will Pryce, Harvey Barron, Herman Ese'Ese, Joe Batchelor, Jed Cartwright and Joe Ward will all watch this game from the sidelines.
Coach John Cartwright still has the likes of Davy Litten, Zak Hardaker, Lewis Martin, Jake Arthur, Aidan Sezer, John Asiata, Cade Cust and Harvie Hill at his disposal.
Looking at both squads, I can only see a win for Hull. Leigh are in poor form at the moment, and although Hull are not playing well they should have enough to advance in the Challenge Cup.
I am backing Hull to win by 8-14 points, while I am backing Lewis Martin to score the opening try of the game. When it comes to other try scorers, I am backing Cust and Litten to also grab tries.
Leigh Leopards vs Hull FC Betting Tips
Hull to win - 19/10 @ Betfred
Hull to win by 8-14 points - 6/1 @ William Hill
Betfred Highlights
- Variety of betting markets
- "Pick Your Punt" feature
- Daily draw prizes of £800 from a £1 stake
LEIGH LEOPARDS v HULL FC
Last 10 meetings:
Hull FC 18, Leigh 12 (SLR22, 16/8/25)
Leigh 12, Hull FC 26 (SLR12, 22/5/25)
Hull FC 22, Leigh 22 (aet) (SLR4, 6/3/25)
Leigh 42, Hull FC 12 (SLR21, 11/8/24)
Hull FC 4, Leigh 54 (SLR5, 16/3/24)
Leigh 28, Hull FC 16 (SLR15, 9/6/23)
Hull FC 16, Leigh 24 (SLR6, 25/3/23)
Leigh 22, Hull FC 64 (SLR10, 19/6/21)
Hull FC 22, Leigh 26 (SLR15, 26/5/17)
Leigh 10, Hull FC 24 (SLR10, 17/4/17)
Previous Challenge Cup meetings:
2005 (Quarter Final) Hull FC 46 Leigh 14
2004 (Round 4) Leigh 14 Hull FC 21
1987 (Quarter Final) Hull FC 8 Leigh 12
1971 (Quarter Final) Leigh 8 Hull FC 4
1910 (Round 1) Hull FC 10 Leigh 7
1908 (Semi-Final) Hull FC 7 Leigh 0
(at Thrum Hall, Halifax)
Challenge Cup Betting Accumulator
I am hoping I can get a full house this week. I was so close in the Super League last week, I have to get them all right this weekend. There will be five all-Super League encounters in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup, and if form continues from the league then I am confident of picking the right winners.
Wigan Warriors are the Kings of the Challenge Cup and they entertain Bradford on Friday evening. Jai Field is out following appendix surgery and Bevan French is missing for 16 weeks with a torn hamstring. They are two of Wigan's best players, but it gives youngsters Jack Farrimond and Noah Hodkinson to prove themselves. I still expect a comfortable win for the Warriors.
Leeds are another team that have impressed in recent weeks with winger Maika Sivo in great try-scoring form and I expect them to be strong for Wakefield -who only just edged past Hull last weekend.
St Helens have won three in a row in Super League, but they have a huge injury crisis. They take on a Castleford team who have won just once all season in the league. I am backing Saints to win.
Hull KR will have no worries getting past the Giants for the second week running, Huddersfield are another team who are struggling with injuries. Leigh and Hull are two sides in poor form, and maybe they need the distraction of the cup to kick start their campaign I am backing Hull to take the spoils in this one.
Catalans Dragons, Warrington Wolves and York Knights should have no problems when they face lower league opposition in Oldham, Goole and Keighley respectively, which is why at the moment you cannot back any of those three teams to win with BetMGM.
- Wigan to win - 1/20
- Leeds Rhinos - 4/9
- Hull KR to win - 1/25
- Hull FC to win - 13/8
- St Helens to win - 7/25
Challenge Cup Acca Odds
- 17/4 @ BetMGM
Challenge Cup Try Scorer Betting Odds
Here is a list of players that are capable of scoring the first try in their matches this weekend. Remember, if your selected player scores first and scores a second later on, you will get double the odds.
Wigan Warriors vs Bradford Bulls
Zach Eckersley - 6/1 @ Betfred
Adam Keighran - 12/1 @ Betfred
Connor Wynne - 16/1 @ Betfred
Ethan Ryan - 16/1 @ Betfred
Wakefield Trinity vs Leeds Rhinos
Tom Johnstone - 12/1 @ Betfred
Max Jowitt - 16/1 @ Betfred
Maika Sivo - 13/2 @ Betfred
Harry Newman - 16/1 @ Betfred
Challenge Cup Outright Betting
A lot of the teams remaining in the Challenge Cup are missing star players, but I still think that Wigan Warriors will still compete without Field and Bevan and I am backing them to reach the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.
They will need a bit of luck with the remainder of the draw, but if they avoid Hull KR or Warrington on the way to the final, then they should be returning to Wembley after missing out last season.
Challenge Cup Betting Odds @ BetMGM
Wigan - 9/4
Hull KR - 3/1
Leeds - 6/1
St Helens - 13/2
Warrington - 8/1
Leigh - 12/1
Catalans - 14/1
Hull FC - 14/1
Wakefield - 20/1
Huddersfield - 35/1
York - 40/1
Castleford - 50/1
Bradford - 100/1
Oldham - 250/1
Goole - 500/1
Keighley - 500/1
