Wigan Warriors vs Warrington Wolves Predictions: Challenge Cup final surprise on the cards?

Warrington Wolves face Wigan Warriors at Wembley on Saturday in a Betfred Challenge Cup Final that promises to be one of the most gripping and emotional contests ever as two of the game's leading clubs battle to lift rugby league’s iconic piece of silverware.

Sam Burgess bids to land a major trophy in his first season in charge of the Wolves, but standing in his and Warrington’s way are the competition’s most successful ever side (kick-off 15:07 BST).

Wigan Warriors vs Warrington Wolves Odds

Wigan are 1/2 favourites to win a 21st Challenge Cup, with Warrington priced at 15/8 as they gun for a 10th triumph in club history and a fifth at the new Wembley Stadium. You can get 22/1 on the game going to golden-point extra-time for the second successive year.

Team News

Warrington are able to name their strongest possible squad, with all of the star names who were rested for last week’s Betfred Super League contest against Wigan returning. Matty Ashton, Ben Currie, Matt Dufty, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, James Harrison, Toby King, Josh Thewlis, Paul Vaughan and Danny Walker all come straight back into the side, along with England captain George Williams, who served a one-match ban last week.

Jordy Crowther is also included having missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, with the injured Joe Philbin the only senior big-name absentee. Youngsters Leon Hayes, Luke Thomas and Wesley Bruines are all out long term.

Wigan rested some key men last week too, but suffered a double blow to two of their first-choice stars who did take to the field against the Wolves. Centre Adam Keighran was sent off in that game and will serve a three-match ban, while try-scoring impact prop Tyler Dupree – who has yielded some great returns this season for followers of this column – is also banned and misses the big one at Wembley.

The loss of the key pair offers up two big opportunities in the matchday squad, with 20-year-old centre Zach Eckersley pushing his claims for inclusion on the big stage. As for the pack, Harvie Hill and veteran Mike Cooper will hope to force their way into the 17, with the close-season signing from Leeds Rhinos, Sam Walters, another option.

Jai Field, Jake Wardle, Liam Farrell and Luke Thompson all come back into the side after being rested last week.

First losing bet on PickYourPunt market on Warrington v Wigan (2/1+) placed after 13:00 on 06/06/24. 100% of stake back in Free Bets up to £10 if you lose. Credited within 24hrs for use on Sports only, removed 11/06/24. T&Cs Apply. 

Warrington Wolves -2 @ 9/4

This is a cracking line-up for a big final and I have gone back and forth over who I fancy here. It is second versus fourth in terms of the league table, with Wigan the obvious favourites – the Betfred Super League champions are record-breaking 20-time Challenge Cup winners and have the pedigree, history and big-game know-how.

This is just the second time in history these two sides have met in a Challenge Cup final – the other being in 1990 – and it offers Wigan the chance to be in possession of all four major rugby league honours at the same time, having won the Grand Final, League Leaders’ Shield and World Club Challenge in the last nine months. Such a feat has not been achieved since St Helens dominated the domestic landscape in 2006 and 2007, with Bradford Bulls the only other club to hold a clean sweep three years before that.

Warrington are bidding to win the cup for the first time in six years, and have suffered three Grand Final defeats by Wigan in recent years. But this Warrington team looks a far more united and determined bunch under Burgess than any recent version of the Wolves. They will be fired up to fight for glory in this one and I sense they will run Wigan very, very close.

But will they have enough? For Warrington to win, everything has to click and that will all flow from the wand of George Williams. The England captain is in the form of his life, and the former Wigan man knows as well as anyone what it takes to plot the Warriors' downfall. If he can get on the front foot behind his team’s powerful pack then the Wolves have a real chance.

Wigan have firepower all over the park, not least in Super League’s top tryscorer Liam Marshall, although he has been relatively subdued in recent weeks after a flying start to the campaign. Jai Field and Bevan French can be devastating in broken play, as Huddersfield Giants found to their cost in the final of two years ago.

On a special day at Wembley when rugby league legend Rob Burrow will be remembered by all of those who loved him, it feels fitting to be brave. So I’m going to back Warrington to spring a famous upset.

Liam Marshall anytime tryscorer @ 5/4

There are a few players I fancy to score at Wembley this weekend. George Williams has repaid our faith in him a few times already this season, and if Warrington are to win then Williams to score a try anytime at 7/2 is a bet I like.

Likewise Wigan’s two wingers, who tend to be the chief beneficiaries of most of the Warriors’ attacking play. Abbas Miski and Super League’s top tryscorer Liam Marshall are both available at 5/4, which I find to be excellent value. I feel that Marshall to score a Wembley try, regardless of the outcome, is a shrewd bit of business.

Betfred is also offering a Double Delight Hat-Trick Heaven special, whereby if your chosen player scores the first try of the match, then goes on to score another, we'll DOUBLE your first Tryscorer scorer price and if they get a third we’ll TREBLE it!

May the best team win.

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Top Price or joint Top Price on all Anytime Tryscorers in the 2024 Challenge Cup Final with selected bookmakers using Oddschecker for comparison at time of bet placement. Pre Match singles only. Max Stakes Vary. Prices subject to fluctuation. T&C’s Apply.