Warrington Wolves vs Hull KR Prediction: 5/2 Broadbent and Robins to break 40-year drought

Favourites Hull KR take on nine-times winners Warrington Wolves in rugby league's annual day in the sunshine on Saturday, with a gripping Betfred Challenge Cup final anticipated at Wembley Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST, live on BBC One).

Rovers have been the team to beat throughout 2025 so far, but Willie Peters' Betfred Super League leaders come up against a Wolves outfit led by head coach Sam Burgess which is more than capable of beating anyone. Below are my Warrington Wolves vs Hull KR predictions for the big finale under the Wembley arch.

Warrington Wolves vs Hull KR Odds

The Betfred traders are paying no attention to talk of history and hoodoos, with Rovers the heavy 3/10 favourites to get the job done in 80 minutes. That means an implied 76.9% chance of the Robins supporters finally getting something to celebrate come full-time.

Warrington are a 3/1 shot for glory inside regulation time, with the draw - which would replicate Rovers' last involvement in this match in 2023 - an 18/1 call.

The handicap markets are giving the Wire a start of two scores, with the standard two-way bracket having them at 10/11 with a 9.5-point start while KR are 5/6 against the disadvantage.

Team News

The big news for either side is the return from injury of Warrington captain George Williams, seven weeks after rupturing ankle ligaments in the home defeat by Hull FC.

Williams was the Player of the Match that day but was barely able to walk after the game and scans ruled him out long term. As such it is a pretty premature return to action and had this been a regular round of Super League I have no doubt that we would not be seeing the England skipper for another few weeks at least.

I spoke with Williams shortly after the injury and he disclosed that the early prognosis was for a far longer lay-off than the one he has had. But he also made it very clear that he had set his own personal target - which was very different to that of the specialist - which was to return for Wembley.

So I am not at all surprised to see him back and we will find out when the referee blows his whistle just how fit the Warrington talisman is. If he is indeed 100 per cent, then this could be a cracker.

Warrington also name Lachlan Fitzgibbon in their squad despite an injury scare for the forward last week. Toby King and Jordy Crowther are the other doubts but both are named in the squad too. Connor Wrench returns to the 21, so Tom Whitehead and Ben Hartill drop out.

Hull KR also have a big name back early, with hooker Michael McIlorum named in the squad just eight weeks into a 12-week recovery period after bicep surgery.

Prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is included too after suspension, while their big absentee is full-back Arthur Mourgue, who is cup-tied having played for Catalans Dragons earlier in the season.

Handicap 3-way Hull KR -10 @ 1/1

Will Hull KR buckle under the pressure of being favourites? I don't expect so. They are just too good and too solid under Willie Peters for a big occasion like this to get to them this season.

Of course, it has been some wait for the Robins since their cup win of 1980, and both they and the Wolves have experienced pretty recent Wembley heartache having each fallen at the final hurdle in the last two years.

I don't place a great deal of relevance on previous Challenge Cup history, but recent meetings between the two teams are worth a look.  Hull KR were easy winners at Warrington 31-12 in the only game between the sides this year. Last year saw four matches shared with two wins each.

Of the last 10 games between the two sides, Hull KR have won six and Warrington four.

While Wire boss Burgess will deliver more of a 'beat the chest and embrace the big occasion' type of motivational message, Peters is more likely to drill his players into the 'play it like it is just another game' mindset. And that is what will win Hull KR this final.

They are better than Warrington, have better players, a deeper squad at present and if they execute the kind of gameplan that we have seen shut out most of Super League so far this year, then they can leave the Wolves feeding on crumbs.

Warrington will hope the experience of having five previous winners in the squad can be key, with no Rovers players having lifted the trophy before.

And let's be honest, the Wolves' hopes rest very heavily on their half-backs. If Williams is fully fit and firing, then he and Marc Sneyd can win this for Warrington. This is absolutely the key battle and both managers know it. Sneyd's kicking game on that big Wembley pitch will be what moves his team around the field and if he has a 40-20 or two up his sleeve then I actually fancy Warrington.

But my instincts in this one remain that the better team is Hull KR, the more experienced coach is Willie Peters and that George Williams will not be fully fit.

For those reasons, even if both teams execute pretty closely to their gameplans, then I have a Hull KR victory by a couple of scores at least.

Rugby League Odds

Hull KR -4.5 and Jack Broadbent to score a try @ 5/2

There are plenty of options for my second selection this week. Betfred are offering Double Delight and Hat-Trick Heaven offers, whereby if your first tryscorer selection scores a second or third try then your odds will be doubled or trebled!

We will also give back 50% of your stake in Free Bets if you lose when placing a PickYourPunt bet (2/1+).

The Lance Todd Trophy betting for man-of-the-match is always a fun market for Challenge Cup final day. I would be looking in the halves for that, with Mikey Lewis (5/2) and Marc Sneyd (6/1) my top selections, and Jack Broadbent a good shout at 10/1 if he can maintain his fine run of try-scoring form.

And on that note my second selection features a Broadbent try and a Hull KR win by over 4.5 points as a PickYourPunt bet at 5/2, at an implied 28.6% chance.

Regulars to this column will know I have backed Broadbent frequently this season after sensing some of his best form, and he comes into this game having scored twice last week and three in his last two.

Willie Peters is clearly a fan too, having used the versatile star at full-back, centre and wing without hesitation.

If you are looking solely at the tryscorer market then I would also consider winger Joe Burgess at 11/10 and Wire full-back Matt Dufty at 9/4.

I'm really looking forward to this game and am absolutely not writing off a Warrington side who have enough match-winners to spring a surprise.

But my gut tells me this will be Hull KR's day.

We also have Double Delight and Hat-Trick Heaven offers available, so if you back a first tryscorer and he scores two or even three, then you will see your odds doubled or trebled!

You can read all our latest Rugby League Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights Rugby League content hub