Why I have changed my mind about the Challenge Cup format

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When it was announced that Super League clubs would enter the Challenge Cup at round 3 and face seeded away ties at lower league or amateur clubs, I was against the idea. This weekend has changed my view.

In years gone by, we have seen Super League clubs lay waste to Championship and League 1 sides in the Challenge Cup, in encounters which have served little purpose.

Fans agreed and often voted with their feet. So we changed the structure meaning that Super League clubs entered later. This led to Super League teams having a short route to Wembley, more repeat fixtures and the competition feeling less unique. Also, not ideal.

The latest idea represented a half way house. My primary concern was that the blow outs that we see when Super League clubs face non-professional opposition would be even worse with the involvement of amateur clubs.

I also worried from a safety perspective. The prospect of super human, Super League athletes coming up against people who play the sport on a weekend, primarily for the love of the sport was concerning. The idea of the likes of Junior Nsemba bulldozing a bricklayer meaning he is unable to earn for a while made me uneasy.

Yet the scenes at the weekend have changed my mind. We saw a crowd of just under 4,000 for Whitehaven v Warrington. Whitehaven are a club that nearly failed to see out the 2024 season due to financial problems and this would have been a major boost, financially.

Cumbrians are as passionate about Rugby League as anyone. Yet they rarely get the chance to see elite teams in their county. This format changed that.

York posted their highest crowd since the club was re-formed in 2002. Midlands hosted Salford and achieved their highest ever crowd.

The scenes of wild celebration when York Acorn scored a try against Hull FC were fantastic. Several thousand locals came out to support West Hull against St Helens and saw the amateurs hold the Saints to under 40 points.

I particularly enjoyed watching the coming together between West Hull and St Helens and Leeds and Wests Warriors at the end of their respective matches. We often use the phrase "Rugby League family" and these were perfect examples of it.

And that's before mentioning Bradford's victory over Castleford. An encounter which was as dramatic as it gets. Or Sheffield, Halifax, Midlands, Hunslet and Whitehaven putting brave displays against Super League opposition.

Yes, there were some big scores. But I think we must reconcile ourselves to the fact that any competition which includes professional, semi-professional and amateur sides will inevitably see big scorelines posted.

The question is not how we prevent this (we can't) but how we deliver this in the safest, most fan-engaging and most lucrative manner.

I was very sceptical before this weekend but think we may have hit a winner.

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