2018 Challenge Cup Final
# 2018 Challenge Cup Final

The 2018 Challenge Cup Final was the 117th cup-deciding game of the rugby league 2018 Challenge Cup Season. It was held at Wembley Stadium in London on 25 August 2018, kick off 15:00. The final was contested by Catalans Dragons and Warrington Wolves. The game saw Catalans Dragons beat Warrington Wolves by 20 points to 14 and saw the Dragons win the competition for the first time.

## Background

This would be Catalans Dragons second appearance in a Challenge Cup Final having come runners-up to St Helens during the 2007 Challenge Cup Final. By contrast, this would be 18th cup final and the 5th of the Super League era, having most recently achieving a runners-up place in 2016, and winning the competition in 2009, 2010, and 2012.

## Route to the final

### Catalans Dragons

Having played in the qualifiers during the 2017 Super League, Catalans Dragons entered in one round earlier than their finalist opponents. In the fifth round they drew eventual League 1 champions York City Knights who they beat 34–22. The sixth round saw them face a second League 1 team, Whitehaven who they thrashed 56 points to 10. The quarter finals saw the Dragons play Super League side Huddersfield Giants beating them 20 points to six. In the semi-finals, Catalans Dragons beat eventual Super League league leaders St Helens 53 points to 16 to reach the final.

| Round | Opposition | Score |
| - | - | - |
| 5th | York City Knights (A) | 34–22 |
| 6th | Whitehaven (H) | 56–10 |
| QF | Huddersfield (A) | 20–6 |
| SF | St Helens (N) | 35–16 |

### Warrington Wolves

Warrington Wolves drew Championship side Toronto Wolfpack, thrashing them 66–10, before nilling rivals Wigan Warriors, scoring 23 points, to reach the semi-finals. The semi-final saw the Wolves comfortably beat relegation threatened Leeds Rhinos 48-12 to reach the final.

| Round | Opposition | Score |
| - | - | - |
| 6th | Toronto Wolfpack (H) | 66–10 |
| QF | Wigan Warriors (H) | 23–0 |
| SF | Leeds Rhinos (N) | 48–12 |

## Match details

* Saturday, 25 August 15:00

| Catalans Dragons | 20 - 14 | Warrington Wolves |
| - | - | - |
| Tries Lewis Tierney ('2) Benjamin Garcia ('35) Brayden Wiliame ('46) Goals Josh Drinkwater ('3, '8, '36, '47) | Report | Tries Ben Murdoch-Masila ('29) George King ('56) Goals Tyrone Roberts ('30, '57, '70) |

* Wembley Stadium, London Attendance: 50,672 Referee: Robert Hicks Player of the Match: Tony Gigot

| Catalans Dragons | Posit. | Posit. | Warrington Wolves |
| - | - | - | - |
| Tony Gigot | . | . | Stefan Ratchford |
| Lewis Tierney | . | . | Tom Lineham |
| David Mead | . | . | Bryson Goodwin |
| Brayden Wiliame | . | . | Toby King |
| Fouad Yaha | . | . | Josh Charnley |
| Samisoni Langi | . | . | Kevin Brown |
| Josh Drinkwater | . | . | Tyrone Roberts |
| Mickael Simon | . | . | Chris Hill (c) |
| Michael McIlorum | . | . | Daryl Clark |
| Sam Moa | . | . | Michael Cooper |
| Benjamin Jullien | . | . | Harvey Livett |
| Benjamin Garcia | . | . | Jack Hughes |
| Rémi Casty (c) | . | . | Ben Westwood |
| Julian Bousquet | Int. | Int. | Ben Murdoch-Masila |
| Jason Baitieri | Int. | Int. | George King |
| Mickael Goudemand | Int. | Int. | Declan Patton |
| Kenny Edwards | Int. | Int. | Joe Philbin |
| Steve McNamara | Coach | Coach | Steve Price |

## Post match

As winners of the 2018 Challenge Cup Final, Catalans Dragons became the first non-English team to win the tournament. Unfortunately, the match attendance of 50,672 was the lowest since the second world war. The presence of Catalans Dragons, a French team, in the final was thought to be a factor; despite an attendance of almost 35,000 more making the journey to Wembley for the 2007 Challenge Cup Final where the Dragons finished as runners-up.

