Sourcing caveat: Try minutes are approximate (sourced from a single retrospective blog rather than a primary scorecard). Referee confirmed 10 Sep 2026 via this final's Wikipedia article (Ron Campbell), directly re-fetched by the assistant, closing a gap left open by an earlier pass. Goal-kicking attribution/counts for both teams are unconfirmed. Lineups added subsequently, sourced from Rugby League Project's team-sheet summary for this final — shirt numbers 1-13 for each side, all confirmed and consistent with the try scorers already recorded above (Ferguson wing, Kenny five-eighth, Gill wing, Edwards fullback for Wigan; James wing, Evans centre, Leuluai centre, Divorty second row for Hull). Wigan's bench is listed with only one named substitute (no. 15) and two joint coaches in the source found; Hull's bench (14 and 15) and single coach are both confirmed.
Scorers
Wigan
Tries: John Ferguson (~20'); Brett Kenny (~28'); Henderson Gill (~35'); Shaun Edwards (~48'); John Ferguson (~66') Goals: David Stephenson and/or Henderson Gill (exact split/count unconfirmed)
Hull FC
Tries: Kevin James (11'); Steve Evans (~58'); James Leuluai (64'); Gary Divorty (74') Goals: Lee Crooks (exact count unconfirmed; described as missing multiple conversion attempts)
Widely regarded as one of the greatest Challenge Cup finals ever played, Wigan edged a thrilling try-fest 28-24 against Hull FC in front of a record Wembley rugby league crowd of 97,801. Eight tries were shared between the sides — John Ferguson scored twice for Wigan either side of tries from Brett Kenny, Henderson Gill and Shaun Edwards, while Hull hit back through Kevin James, Steve Evans, James Leuluai and Gary Divorty, with Hull's Lee Crooks repeatedly missing conversions that proved costly. Australian stand-off Brett Kenny was outstanding in the Wigan midfield and was named Lance Todd Trophy winner. It was the first Wembley final meeting between these two clubs since 1959, when Wigan had also won. For much of the competition's early history the final rotated around northern club and representative grounds such as Headingley, Fartown, Central Park and the Athletic Ground, Rochdale, before Wembley Stadium became the final's permanent home from 1928/29 onward (with a short break during Wembley's 2000-2007 reconstruction, when finals were staged at Murrayfield, Twickenham and the Millennium Stadium instead). Since 1946/47, the competition's individual award, the Lance Todd Trophy, has been presented to the final's outstanding player, voted for by a panel of media representatives at the final whistle — on several notable occasions the trophy has gone to a player on the losing side, an unusual honour that reflects the award's focus on individual performance rather than simply reflecting the final scoreline. This was the 84th Challenge Cup final played, and, under the name “Wigan,” the 8th Challenge Cup title for the club.
Early rounds feature amateur and community clubs alongside professional ones; team names are linked only where this site has a team page for that exact club, matching the same safety-first approach used for the Final's own results table.
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