Betfred Challenge Cup 2025 – Round 4 preview and predictions
The Challenge Cup’s back this weekend with 16 teams still in the hunt for the trophy, as they look to make the final at Wembley on 7th June.
Five Championship sides are playing for a quarter-final spot, including Bradford Bulls, who knocked out Super League side Castleford Tigers in round three.
Let’s take a look at how they, and everyone else will line up this weekend…
Friday 14th March – St Helens vs Leeds Rhinos – Totally Wicked Stadium
Overview and form guide
The action kicks off with arguably the tie of the round, as the Saints take on the Rhinos.
These two have plenty of Challenge Cup pedigree. St Helens have lifted the famous old trophy 13 times, while Leeds have done one better, with 14 victories.
Both sides overcame amateur opposition in round three, with Leeds seeing off Wests Warriors, 92-0, and Saints beating West Hull, 38-0.
As for league form, St Helens have three wins and one defeat so far, while Leeds are 2-2 after the opening four rounds.
Team news
St Helens have named an unchanged squad from last weekend’s 10-20 loss to Hull KR in Super League.
Leeds Rhinos have made one change to the squad which lost 11-0 to Catalans Dragons in Super League last week. Jack Smith replaces Matt Frawley, who suffered a concussion in that match. Lachlan Miller and Ryan Hall were named in the 21-man-squad last week but were unable to play. Both are available again this week.
My prediction – St Helens 18-10 Leeds Rhinos
Anything can happen in a cup tie and Leeds are more than capable of turning Saints over, but based on both teams’ performances in Super League so far, it’s hard to see past a home win.
Betting tips
Saints are just 2/7 for a win, so I’d go for them to win by 1-10 instead, at 2/1. In the try scorer market, Kyle Feldt looks a good shout to be the first home player to cross, at 4/1.
Friday 14th March – Salford Red Devils vs Bradford Bulls – Salford Community Stadium
Overview and form guide
Salford’s year so far has been an unmitigated disaster. Players not being paid on time and refusing to train, new owners failing to put the money into the club in timely fashion, and to top things off, star man Marc Sneyd has left for Warrington ahead of this weekend’s game.
As for results, they’ve lost all four games in Super League, scoring just 20 points in the process. The only saving grace has been their safe passage into the fourth round of the Challenge Cup, after they saw off part-timers Midlands Hurricanes, 10-46, in round three.
As for cup success, they’ve won the trophy once – back in 1938 – but they have finished runners-up on seven occasions, the most recent in 2020.
As for Bradford, they’ve picked up two wins from their opening three games in the Championship, but it was their 18-16 win over Castleford Tigers in round three of the Challenge Cup which really caught the headlines.
They’ve got some cup pedigree too, with five victories to their name, although none since 2003.
Team news
Due to their ongoing financial issues, Salford have only named a 17-man squad, although Marc Sneyd has since left, so it remains to be seen if they’ll be playing with 16 or bringing in a replacement.
*Update*
Sneyd has been replaced in the 17 by Charlie McCurrie.
Bradford have made two changes to last week’s squad. Sam Ackroyd and Luke Hooley come in for Tom Holmes and Ebon Scurr.
My prediction – Salford Red Devils 12-14 Bradford Bulls
If any Championship team is going to cause an upset this weekend, it’ll surely be the Bulls. On paper, Salford still have a pretty strong side, but morale’s likely to be at a real low and Bradford’s squad is still packed with Super League and NRL experience itself.
Betting tips
I can’t find any markets for this game yet, but if they do appear, then an outright Bradford win should be well priced, given that they’re a Championship team playing away from home.
Friday 14th March – Hull KR vs Oldham – Sewell Group Craven Park
Overview and form guide
The Robins have picked up where they left off this year, with four straight wins in Super League, which has given them their best start to a season since 1985. Similarly, they breezed through their Challenge Cup third round tie against York, 2-44.
Rovers only have one Challenge Cup success on the board – back in 1980 – but they have been runners-up seven times, most recently in the dramatic 17-16 Golden Point loss to Leigh in 2023.
As for Oldham, it’s one win, one draw and one defeat in the Championship, but they reached round four of the Challenge Cup with a very impressive 42-4 win over fellow Championship side, Barrow Raiders.
They’re three-time winners of the Challenge Cup, with their most recent victory coming in 1927.
Team news
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Dean Hadley and Michael McIlorum all miss out this weekend for Hull KR, with Niall Evalds, Bill Leyland and Leon Ruan coming into the squad.
Oldham are without a host of names, including Logan Astley, George Hirst, Jordan Turner, Mo Agoro and Phoenix-Laulu Togaga’e. They do have Gil Dudson, Owen Farnworth, Josh Drinkwater, Danny Craven, Matty Ashurst and Iain Thornley available again though, in a squad packed with Super League experience.
Oldham squad: 2. Kieran Dixon, 4. Iain Thornley, 6. Danny Craven, 7. Riley Dean, 8. Gil Dudson, 9. Matty Wildie, 10. Owen Farnworth, 11. Matty Ashurst, 12. Adam Lawton, 13. Adam Milner, 15. Jay Chapelhow, 16. Pat Moran, 17. Elijah Taylor, 18. Jumah Sambou, 19. Ted Chapelhow, 20. Jack Johnson, 21. Lewis Baxter, 22. Cian Tyrer, 23. Josh Drinkwater, 24. Ben O’Keefe, 27. Ben Forster
My prediction – Hull KR 52-6 Oldham
This should be a fairly comfortable night’s work for Rovers. Despite all the Super League experience in the Oldham squad, they’re a part-time side, and that will show as the game wears on.
Betting tips
You can get 11/10 on Hull KR with a -42 handicap, which should be achievable given their form so far this year.
Saturday 15th March – Widnes Vikings vs Warrington Wolves – DCBL Stadium
Overview and form guide
With these two being local rivals, this is one of the more intriguing fourth round ties on paper, but Widnes’ glory days are a distant memory.
Still, there’ll be a huge crowd for this game, and the Vikings have won two of their three games so far in the Championship. A 20-26 win over League 1 side North Wales Crusaders was enough to get them here.
They’ve played in 13 Challenge Cup Finals too, winning seven of them. 1993 was their last appearance in the final though, and you have to go back to 1984 for their last victory.
As for Warrington, they’ve had a stuttering start in Super League. They won their opening two games, but have lost their last two, conceding 78 points in the process. They eased through their previous Challenge Cup game to make this round though, seeing off Whitehaven, 4-44.
The Wire have appeared in 19 Challenge Cup Finals, winning nine of them. They were runners-up to Wigan last year, and their last victory in the final came back in 2019.
Team news
Joe Edge replaces Max Wood in the only Widnes change from last weekend. Ironically, Wood has returned to parent club Warrington and been named in their squad for this game.
Matty Ashton, Matt Dufty, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Toby King and Luke Yates are all missing for Warrington through injury. Arron Lindop also misses out through concussion. Max Wood has been named in the squad after returning from a loan with Widnes.
Warrington Wolves squad: Jordy Crowther, Ben Currie, Alfie Johnson, James Harrison, Adam Holroyd, Oli Leyland, Zane Musgrove, Joe Philbin, Sam Powell, Stefan Ratchford, Dan Russell, Rodrick Tai, Cai Taylor-Wray, Jake Thewlis, Josh Thewlis, Luke Thomas, Paul Vaughan, Danny Walker, Tom Whitehead, George Williams, Max Wood.
My prediction – Widnes Vikings 10-32 Warrington Wolves
Even though they’re missing a host of big names, the Wire should have far too much for their local rivals, and there’s still enough firepower in the side to get the job done.
Betting tips
Nothing’s available at the moment, so I can’t say where the value will be. Josh Thewlis to score a try any time and Warrington with a -20 handicap would be my two ‘safe’ bets though.
Saturday 15th March – Wigan Warriors vs Hull FC – The Brick Community Stadium
Overview and form guide
Along with the St Helens game, this is the other standout tie of the round. Wigan are the current holders and 21-time winners, while Hull have lifted the trophy five times themselves.
Every time these two get drawn together, talk inevitably turns to the famous final between them in 1985, under the Twin Towers, when Wigan claimed their eighth Challenge Cup in an all-time classic.
However, the last time they met in the final, it was actually Hull who triumphed. Their 18-14 win in 2017 was the last time they won the trophy, too.
In Super League this year, Wigan have looked almost unstoppable. Even in the one game they’ve lost, they didn’t concede a try, and they’ve already beaten Hull, 4-46 in their league meeting three weeks ago.
As for their Challenge Cup progress this season, it was a 12-48 win over Sheffield Eagles that got Wigan into this round.
Hull, meanwhile, look much improved from 2024, and have two wins, one draw and one defeat so far this year in Super League – that defeat did come against Wigan though.
In their Challenge Cup third round tie, they cruised past amateur side, York Acorn, 6-52.
Team news
Wigan have made one change to the squad from last weekend’s Super League victory over Huddersfield Giants. Jacob Douglas replaces Abbas Miski.
Hull FC have made two changes to their squad from last weekend’s draw with Leigh Leopards. Zak Hardaker is back in contention to face his former club and Will Gardiner is also included. Yusuf Aydin is out through injury, while Sam Eseh is unable to face his parent club.
My prediction – Wigan Warriors 24-16 Hull FC
In his three years in charge of the Warriors, Matty Peet has lost just one Challenge Cup tie – an 11-10 semi-final defeat against Hull KR in 2023. With Wigan looking so strong at the moment, and with history on their side, I can see them taking a big step towards Wembley again this week, although Hull should provide stiffer opposition than they did in the league meeting last month.
Betting tips
Again, there aren’t any markets available at the moment. Bevan French and Liam Marshall as anytime try scorers would be my go-to though.
Saturday 15th March – Catalans Dragons vs Featherstone Rovers – Stade Gilbert Brutus
Overview and form guide
The Dragons finally got off the mark last weekend with an 11-0 win over Leeds Rhinos to pick up their first league win of the campaign. That said, they did also manage to nil Halifax in the last round of the Challenge Cup, so defence hasn’t been their biggest issue.
As for cup pedigree, Catalans famously became the first non-British team to lift the trophy in 2018, but they haven’t made a final since.
As for Championship stalwarts Featherstone, they’ve not had a particularly impressive start to the year either. Coach James Ford was sacked after just two games, but it didn’t have the desired effect, as they lost last weekend as well to Sheffield Eagles.
They did coast into the fourth round of the cup at least, with a a 68-0 win over amateurs, Ince Rose Bridge. Rovers have won the Challenge Cup three times in their history, but the last victory was way back in 1983.
Team news
Tommy Makinson, Théo Fages and Franck Maria all drop out for Catalans this weekend, with Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet, Jordan Dezaria and César Rougé coming in to replace them.
Featherstone have plenty of Super League experience in their side, with Caleb Aekins, Derrell Olpherts and Carlos Tuimavave all named. There’s no place in the squad for ex-Wigan utility Ryan Hampshire though, who signed earlier this week.
My prediction – Catalans Dragons 26-6 Featherstone Rovers
This should be a morale-boosting win for the Dragons against a side whose own confidence won’t be particularly high. I can’t see Catalans having it all their own way, but they should have enough to win this by at least double figures.
Betting tips
Again, there aren’t any markets on this game right now, but an anytime try for Nick Cotric and a Catalans win with a -18 handicap would be two bets that I’d be looking at if the price is right.
Sunday 16th March – Huddersfield Giants vs Wakefield Trinity – John Smith’s Stadium
Overview and form guide
The Giants have had a tough start to the season, losing all four games in Super League, but they’ve had their moments and last weekend was their first loss by more than 20 points.
In the cup, they saw off Hunslet, 6-34 in round three. As for history in the competition, Huddersfield have lifted the trophy six times, although no victories since 1953 mean that very few of their fans will have seen them win it in their lifetimes. They came mightily close to another win in 2022, until Wigan snatched victory at the death.
As for Wakefield, they’ve had a strong start to life back in Super League. Two wins and two defeats has them comfortably in mid-table, and they picked up a very impressive 16-30 win at Warrington last week.
In the cup, they saw off Goole Vikings convincingly in round three, 0-82, and they’re looking to add a sixth Challenge Cup to their trophy cabinet, and a first since 1963. They do at least have some recent experience of winning at Wembley though, as they lifted the 1895 Cup last year with a 506 win over Sheffield Eagles.
Team news
The squads haven’t been named for this one yet, although Tui Lolohea is an injury concern for Huddersfield after pulling out in the warm-up last weekend. The Tonga international had stabbing pains in his chest, so watch this space.
For Wakefield, there were no new injury concerns during the Warrington game, although Thomas Doyle is among the long-term absentees.
My prediction – Huddersfield Giants 10-18 Wakefield Trinity
I’ve been impressed with Trinity so far, and I can see them adding to Huddersfield’s misery in this one.
Betting tips
With no markets yet and the squads not named either, it’s difficult to give any tips. I’m certainly backing an away win though.
Sunday 16th March – Leigh Leopards vs Batley Bulldogs – Leigh Sports Village
Overview and form guide
There’s been a feelgood factor around the Leopards for some time now, and it’s certainly been helped by the rugby they’ve been serving up. Three wins and a draw sees them sitting pretty in 2nd on the Super League ladder, and they had no trouble seeing off Workington Town, 0-60, to make it to the fourth round of the cup this weekend.
Speaking of the cup, the three-time winners are one of the teams with a realistic chance of making it to Wembley again this year after winning the trophy as recently as 2023.
As for Batley, they have the distinguished honour of being the first ever winners of the Challenge Cup, way back in 1897. That was the first of three wins in this competition, although with the last one coming in 1901, they’re unlikely to make it four this year.
In the Championship this year, it’s one win and one draw so far for the Bulldogs, who saw off League 1 side Dewsbury Rams in round three, 24-4.
Team news
Squads haven’t been named yet, but don’t be surprised to see Leigh rest a few this weekend. David Armstrong is one player in particular who might be given the week off, having climbed off his sickbed to play in last week’s Super League match against Hull FC.
As for Batley, they’ve brought in Eliot Peposhi and Sam Marshall on loan this week from Bradford Bulls and Warrington Wolves respectively, so they might make the squad. One man who definitely won’t is Dane Manning, after he picked up an eight-match ban earlier this week for throwing punches in their recent clash with Bradford Bulls.
My prediction – Leigh Leopards 48-4 Batley Bulldogs
The Leopards should get through this one pretty comfortably.
Betting tips
Once again, there are no markets yet or squads named. The bare minimum for Leigh should be a 20-point winning margin, and Bailey Hodgson would be my pick to score at least two tries, but it’s hard to say what the odds will look like.
