Carnegie Challenge Cup Final Betting
CARNEGIE CHALLENGE CUP FINAL BETTING – 30th AUGUST
St. Helens v Hull FC
The Carnegie Challenge Cup is Rugby League’s oldest and most prestigious knock out competition. The 2008 Final 2008 is an all Super League affair taking place between leaders St. Helens 11th-placed Hull FC on August 30, at Wembley Stadium, kicking off at 14:30. Unsurprisingly, St. Helens are a best-priced 1/5 favourite with sportingbet, while Hull are 11/2 with bet365 and totesport. The draw is best-priced at 28/1 with totesport. Given that the Final looks one-sided (on paper at least), handicap betting is available. With the draw included, totesport bet 10/11 St. Helens -14 points, 10/11 Hull + 14 points and 16/1 the handicap tie. Without the draw, the same firm bet 10/11 St. Helens – 14.5 points and 4/5 Hull +14.5 points.
Semi-Finals Review
The contrast between the Challenge Cup semi-finals could hardly have been greater. St. Helens v Leeds was an absorbing struggle, with Saints confirming that they are surely the best side in the country. They led 12-2 at half time, eventually victorious by 26 points to 16. Meanwhile, Hull FC and Wakefield trinity swapped tries and mistakes, with Hull prevailing 32 points to 24.
Hull FC
Hull has never won at Wembley in six previous visits and it would be easy to write off the cup final now as a one-horse race. However, the 2008 Carnegie Challenge Cup final has the potential to be a classic. Impressive coach Richard Agar’s team are somewhere close to St. Helens, in terms of big match experience. Versatile hooker, five eighth, half-back and centre Shaun Berrigan has played in numerous grand finals for the Brisbane Broncos, man of the match in one of them, and will command respect from St Helens. Australian winger Matt Sing is equally experienced at all levels of the game. While prop Peter Cusack, half-back Adam Dykes and Motu Tony, the likely full-back, have not enjoyed the same success in the National Rugby League, they’ve still seen enough not to be intimidated by St. Helens. Hull also has the wealth of final experience that their captain, loose forward Lee Radford, gained with Bradford before re-signing for Hull three years ago, and their own impressive record of reaching three finals in last four years means that young centre Kirk Yeaman, winger Gareth Raynor, props Ewan Dowes, Jamie Thackray and Garreth Carvell, second-row Danny Tickle, and stand-off Horne are far from lacking in big-match experience.Hull was relieved when international winger Gareth Raynor was cleared to play in the Carnegie Challenge Cup final. Raynor was found guilty of a high tackle on Chris Thorman in the recent 30-24 Engage Super League home defeat by Huddersfield Giants. However, the Rugby Football League’s Disciplinary Committee deemed a one match suspension was sufficient punishment. Raynor will miss the league visit to Bradford Bulls, but be available for the final.
St. Helens
St. Helens has enjoyed remarkable success through most of the Super League era. Their recent easy Challenge Cup Final wins over Huddersfield (at Twickenham) in 2006 and the Catalans Dragons (at Wembley) in 2007 have provided none of the drama and / or excitement of the memorable Challenge Cup double against Bradford in 1996 and 1997. St. Helens will undoubtedly start as overwhelming favourites to give coach Daniel Anderson a third consecutive Carnegie Challenge Cup triumph in his final season at Knowsley Road. Given the diverse range of talents Saints showed against Leeds, with prop / second row James Graham comprehensively outplaying his Great Britain international colleagues, prop Jamie Peacock and second row/ loose forward / centre Gareth Ellis, this seems perfectly justified. Graham must surely head the shortlist to be the next England skipper, as well as this season’s “Man of Steel.” Saints fans will be probably be hoping for a stiffer test, with nerves shredded and fingernails bitten down to the elbows, as in the old days, at Wembley this year. The combination of two of the game’s better-supported clubs should also ensure a red, blue, black and white 90,000 full house for the first ever Hull versus St Helens Carnegie Challenge Cup final.
All odds correct at time of writing. Please click here for the latest odds
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