For the first time in 37 years, there is no Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, St Helens or Warrington Wolves at the men's Betfred Challenge Cup final this year as Hull Kingston Rovers and Leigh Leopards meet in the Wembley showpiece in a true rugby league rarity.
This weekend also marks the first time that the men's and women's finals have been played back-to-back at the national stadium. Here is everything you need to know about Saturday's matches in rugby league big day out in London.
Leeds Rhinos women v St Helens
Where: Wembley Stadium, London.
When: 11:50am (BST)
TV: BBC Two and BBC iPlayer
Leeds' route: Won 72-0 v Bradford (Group B), Won by forfeit @ Oulton (Group B), Won 54-0 @ Huddersfield (Group B), Won 54-0 v Leigh (Quarter-final), Won 16-4 v Wigan (Semi-final)
St Helens' route: Won 76-0 @ London (Group C), Won 106-0 @ Castleford (Group C), Won 38-4 v Warrington (Group C), Won 36-0 v Warrington (Quarter-final), Won 17-16 v York (Semi-final)
Leeds' Challenge Cup record: Winners x2 (2018, 2019), Runners-up x1 (2022)
St Helens' Challenge Cup record: Winners x6 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2022)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Leeds 11/8, St Helens 8/13, draw 20/1
Handicap betting (Leeds +4): Leeds 10/11, St Helens 10/11, draw 20/1
Previous meetings:
Final, 2022: St Helens 18, Leeds Rhinos 8
Semi-Final, 2021: St Helens 20, Leeds Rhinos 12
Semi-Final, 2019: St Helens 10, Leeds Rhinos 16
Total Challenge Cup meetings: 3 (Leeds 1, St Helens 2, no draws).
Lois Forsell's Rhinos have revenge on their mind after being beaten by the Saints in last season's final at Elland Road, and they also need a bounce-back performance after a shock loss to bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield Giants in Group 1 of the Women's Super League last week.
St Helens have fallen off the pace set by York Valkyrie in the league, but their most recently loss to Lindsay Anfield's side came in the immediate aftermath of the stunning Betfred Women's Challenge Cup semi-final at Warrington which saw Faye Gaskin's last-gasp drop-goal send Matty Smith's women to Wembley at York's expense.
Sportsman stat: Leeds Rhinos back-rower Amy Hardcastle was St Helens' top try scorer last season with 27 tries in 15 matches playing out of her previous position of centre.
Hull Kingston Rovers Men v Leigh Leopards
Where: Wembley Stadium, London.
When: 3:00pm (BST)
TV: BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Hull KR's route: Won 50-0 v Batley (Rd 6), Won 28-10 v Salford (Quarter-final), Won 11-10 v Wigan (Semi-final)
Leigh's route: Won 40-12 @ Wakefield (Rd 6), Won 34-14 @ York (Quarter-final), Won 12-10 v St Helens (Semi-final)
Hull KR's Challenge Cup record: Winners x1 (1980), Runners-up x6
Leigh's Challenge Cup record: Winners x2 (1921, 1971)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Hull KR 8/5, Leigh 8/15, draw 18/1
Handicap betting (Hull KR +4.5): Hull KR 5/6, Leigh 10/11
Previous meetings:
Round 6, 2022: Hull Kingston Rovers 24, Leigh Centurions 18
Round 5, 2020: Hull Kingston Rovers 22, Leigh Centurions 19
Round 5, 2019: Hull Kingston Rovers 14, Leigh Centurions 10
Round 5, 2017: Leigh Centurions 10, Hull Kingston Rovers 23
Round 4, 1996: Hull Kingston Rovers 0, Leigh Centurions 24
Total Challenge Cup meetings: 7 (Hull KR 5, Leigh 2, no draws)
Much has been said in the build-up to Wembley about Rovers' last visit to the national stadium, when their 50-0 loss to Leeds Rhinos broke all sorts of records. They seem like a better prepared outfit this time around, with Willie Peters being very quick to remind his side that the job was far from done after their epic 11-10 golden-point win over Wigan Warriors in the semi-final. Captain Shaun Kenny-Dowall would love to walk away with the Challenge Cup trophy in his final game in the competition before his retirement at the season's end.
Leigh have made a mockery of everybody's pre-season predictions by not just staying clear of the relegation battle but going on a storming run up the Betfred Super League table to third and reaching a first Challenge Cup final in 52 years. Adrian Lam will hope his side maintain all of the values which have brought them this far when they step out on the hallowed turf on Saturday afternoon.
Sportsman stat: This is the fifth Challenge Cup meeting between the two sides in the last seven seasons, with Rovers winning each of the previous four in that time span.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
