This year's Challenge Cup Final will be contested by Leigh Leopards and Hull Kingston Rovers. These two sides have waited a long time to get their hands on the oldest trophy in rugby league again. Rovers last won the trophy in 1980, when they beat their city neighbours Hull FC 10-5 in a game that is still talked about in the city 43 years later.

Leigh's wait is even longer. The Leopards last lifted the trophy in 1971, when Alex Murphy inspired them to a 24-7 win over Leeds. After a one-year hiatus, when the final was held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the final is back at its spiritual home of Wembley. 

The leading UK betting sites have the Leigh Leopards as slight favourites, but in a final, anything can happen.

Winning the Challenge Cup is one of the greatest successes any rugby player can achieve. The competition has been played annually since 1896 and is one of the most important fixtures in the rugby league calendar. 

Wigan are the most successful club in the history of the Challenge Cup, and their name is on the grand old trophy 20 times, including eight in a row from the 1987/88 season to the 1994/95 campaign. Their most recent win was last year, but their hopes of repeating were ended by Hull KR in the semi-finals, with Brad Schneider scoring the match-winning golden point. 

Rovers have won the cup just the once, in 1980, but they can draw level with Leigh on two wins if they can win at Wembley on Saturday. As this is arguably the biggest game in the British rugby league calendar, the best rugby betting sites will be providing a number of free bet offers and enhanced odds, so keep an eye out for those. 

Challenge Cup Final 2023 Free Bets

Not many rugby league fans would have gone on their sports betting apps at the start of the season and backed Leigh Leopards and Hull KR to reach this year's Challenge Cup final. But here we are. Leigh's appearance in the final has raised a few eyebrows, given they were playing in the second tier last season. They have carried that form into Super League, where they sit joint second in the standings. They are well placed to reach a second major final this season. 

Hull KR are back in the Challenge Cup final for the first time since 2015 when things did not go according to plan. They were beaten 50-0 by a Leeds Rhinos team that included Tom Briscoe and Danny McGuire. Briscoe scored a record five tries in the Rhinos win, while McGuire scored another. Briscoe is now playing for the Leopards, while McGuire is part of Willie Peters' coaching staff at Rovers. 

But which side will come out on top at Wembley on Saturday? Here are the latest odds from Betfred:

• ✅ Leigh Leopards - 8/15 
• ✅ Hull KR - 8/5
• ✅ Draw - 18/1

More Challenge Cup Final Offers

In preparations for this week's Challenge Cup Final, Hull KR rested all their players last weekend in their 64-6 loss to the Wigan Warriors in Wigan. Leigh resisted the temptation to do the same, and their near-full-strength squad beat Leeds 13-6. Will Rovers' freshness be the difference?

Challenge Cup Final Enhanced Odds

bet365 Enhanced Odds

This will be the third meeting between Leigh and Hull KR this season, and Leigh have won both so far. A five-point triumph on home soil in March was followed by a 30-point victory at Hull KR's Craven Park home. bet365 has enhanced odds of 5/2 from 13/5 for Leigh to win this year's Challenge Cup Final by 13+ points.

Coral Odds

Both Leigh and Hull KR will feel they have a legitimate chance of winning this year's Challenge Cup Final. They perhaps won't get a better chance of ending their 52 and 43-year Challenge Cup droughts. 

With so much at stake, it wouldn't be a surprise if these two sides cancelled each other out in the first 40 minutes. Coral has odds of 9/1 for this year's Challenge Cup Final to be all square at half-time.

BoyleSports Odds

Hull KR sacrificed two league points last weekend in the Super League when they rested all their first-choice players for their 64-6 loss at Wigan. They should be the fresher of the two sides at Wembley and BoyleSports has odds of 11/2 for Hull KR to win this year's Challenge Cup Final by between one and five points.