Image source, SWPixImage caption, St Helens take on Wigan Warriors in a derby tie to get the men's Challenge Cup semi-final weekend under way
ByJay FreemanBBC Sport England- Published45 minutes ago
And then there were four.
Two intriguing men's Challenge Cup semi-finals are set to take place this weekend, with four of Super League's top-five teams going head to head.
With the women's Challenge Cup semi-finals also on Saturday and Sunday, there is a colossal weekend for rugby league in prospect.
St Helens and Wigan kick off the action in what will inevitably be a fierce derby match for a place at Wembley, with a repeat of last year's final on Sunday when Warrington take on holders Hull KR.
Both fixtures will be broadcast live on the BBC, with coverage across television, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
But what is the feeling among the respective camps as they try to book a place in the showpiece on 30 May?
Can Saints sink Wigan again?
Wigan are set to take on St Helens for the second time this season. The first occasion resulted in one of the greatest derby days of all time.
Saints loanee Bill Leyland scored a dramatic late pair of tries as they fought back to beat Matt Peet's side 34-24 on Good Friday.
That defeat saw Saints recover from a 14-point deficit late in the second half to win by 10 points.
"You've got to reflect on it, I mean obviously we did a little bit of reflecting out of the review process of that game," Peet told BBC Radio Manchester.
"Some of that still stands and it's something we'll talk about again this week, but it's not just the last 10 minutes, it's lessons learned from the whole game."
Since that defeat by St Helens, Wigan have lost two out of four matches in all competitions - with one of the wins in that period coming in their thrilling Challenge Cup win at Wakefield last month.
"You can probably look at the last 10 minutes of why that happened and ways of changing momentum," Wigan half-back Harry Smith told BBC Radio Manchester.
"When we don't have momentum how do we win it back quicker and be more effective in that aspect? We can definitely take some lessons from that game and the past three games as well."
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Figure caption,St Helens produce stunning comeback to beat Wigan
St Helens v Wigan Warriors
Challenge Cup semi-final
Saturday, 9 May - 14:30 BST
Watch on iPlayerListen on SoundsWatch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, listen on BBC Radio sports extra 2, BBC Radio Merseyside and BBC Radio Manchester; live text on BBC Sport website and app
For St Helens boss Paul Rowley, he is sticking to the basics and treating the semi-final like he would the rest of the season.
"We're just preparing like we would any other game and that is a fact," Rowley told BBC Sport.
"The really exciting story is that it's the Saints v Wigan derby, it's the Challenge Cup semi-final, there are lots of different ingredients that make it as big a game as you could possibly have.
"We understand what it means to the towns and to our supporters, and we're embracing it as well."
Whereas Wigan's form has been up and down in 2026, St Helens are on a five-game winning streak, starting with that dramatic derby win over the Warriors.
Not that that is a prime indicator of how they will do when they meet Wigan again, according to Jonny Lomax.
"Sometimes form is irrelevant, it's about the team on the day and that's even more so when it is a semi-final," the St Helens stand-off told BBC Sport.
"Form kind of goes out the window - you hear it a lot with the romance of the cup. It's only added to [the romance] because of the derby. It's who's up for it on the day, isn't it?"
Final four eye Wembley Challenge Cup opportunity
- Published23 hours ago
Injury-hit Warrington target holders Hull KR
Will it be a case of third time's the charm for Sam Burgess' Warrington?
Under his stewardship, Warrington have reached the past two Challenge Cup finals.
But if they are to reach Wembley again they will have to get past last year's victors Hull KR.
The Wire have a number of high-profile absentees, including captain George Williams' lengthy absence with a neck injury, while full-back Cai Taylor-Wray is out for six weeks with an ankle problem.
"The past couple of times we've played each other, barring last year's final, we've been pretty decimated and we're missing some key guys," Burgess told BBC Sport.
"But we'll be ready for a good contest on Sunday and I'm looking forward to Hull KR at their best."
Warrington have lost their past five games in a row against Hull KR and Burgess suggested he might have to lean on the younger members of his squad.
"I think it's nice to have some young lads in there, sort of the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at the contest and everything that comes with it," Burgess added.
"I think that's always exciting as well, seeing the younger players go through these weeks. It's exciting for them and the build-ups are good to watch, but certainly the experienced boys need to stand up this weekend."
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Figure caption,Lewis converts late Davies try to win Challenge Cup for Hull KR
Warrington Wolves v Hull KR
Challenge Cup semi-final
Sunday, 10 May, 16:00 BST
Watch on iPlayerListen on SoundsWatch on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, listen on BBC Radio sports extra 2, BBC Radio Merseyside and BBC Radio Humberside; live text on BBC Sport website and app
As for Hull KR, last season's final was the beginning of a historic run of trophies which culminated in them ending 2025 with the treble.
Tom Davies' dramatic late try at Wembley lit the touchpaper and guided them to the Challenge Cup in June before the Robins wrapped up the League Leaders' Shield and Super League Grand Final before the year was out.
They followed that up with the World Club Challenge in February, defeating NRL Premiers Brisbane Broncos, and a trip to Las Vegas where they lost to Leeds.
And Willie Peters' side come into their meeting with Warrington off the back of a six-game winning run in all competitions since a defeat by Catalans in March.
This is Peters' final Challenge Cup campaign before he departs to join newly formed NRL side Papua New Guinea Chiefs, but he said he would approach the tie like any other despite his impending exit.
"Every year I've had the same desire. The players have had the same desire and nothing's changed. We know what's in front of us," he told BBC Radio Humberside.
"It's a competition that's rich in history. It's one that we respect and to be able to play at Wembley, it's a huge honour for the players and the staff to be involved with, so we obviously want to get there."
