St Helens 32-16 Wigan Warriors — 2004 Challenge Cup Final
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff · Attendance: 73,734
Data last verified: 11 August 2026.
2004 Challenge Cup Final: St Helens 32-16 Wigan Warriors, at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.
Sourcing caveat: Try-scoring minutes could not be confirmed, and the full try-scorer lists for both teams beyond the two named double-scorers could not be fully verified against the final score. Lineups added via Rugby League Project team-sheet data, which returned clean non-sequential shirt numbers for both teams, cross-checked against the tries list above (Talau for St Helens, Dallas for Wigan).
Scorers
| St Helens | Tries: Willie Talau (2 tries) Goals: Sean Long (6 goals from 7 attempts) |
| Wigan Warriors | Tries: Brett Dallas (2 tries) Goals: Andy Farrell (2 goals from 3 attempts) |
Teams
| St Helens | Wigan Warriors | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Wellens | Fullback | Kris Radlinski | 1 |
| 2 | Ade Gardner | Wing | David Hodgson | 4 |
| 3 | Martin Gleeson | Centre | Sean O'Loughlin | 15 |
| 4 | Willie Talau | Centre | Kevin Brown | 21 |
| 5 | Darren Albert | Wing | Brett Dallas | 2 |
| 6 | Jason Hooper | Five-eighth | Danny Orr | 6 |
| 7 | Sean Long | Halfback | Adrian Lam | 7 |
| 8 | Nick Fozzard | Front row | Craig Smith | 10 |
| 9 | Keiron Cunningham | Hooker | Terry Newton | 9 |
| 16 | Keith Mason | Front row | Quentin Pongia | 18 |
| 11 | Chris Joynt | Second row | Danny Tickle | 12 |
| 12 | Lee Gilmour | Second row | Gareth Hock | 20 |
| 13 | Paul Sculthorpe (c) | Lock | Andy Farrell (c) | 13 |
| Substitutes | ||||
| 18 | Mark Edmondson | Terry O'Connor | 8 | |
| 22 | Dom Fe'aunati | Danny Sculthorpe | 16 | |
| 21 | Jon Wilkin | Mick Cassidy | 11 | |
| 20 | Ricky Bibey | Stephen Wild | 19 | |
| Ian Millward | Coach | Denis Betts | ||
Match officials
| Referee | Karl Kirkpatrick (Warrington) |
| Lance Todd Trophy | Sean Long (St Helens) — Lance Todd Trophy, his second win in this fixture |
Match report
Played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the 2004 final saw St Helens comfortably beat Wigan Warriors 32-16, leading 20-10 at half-time on their way to a second Lance Todd Trophy win for Sean Long. Willie Talau's double helped St Helens pull clear, while Wigan's Brett Dallas also scored twice in a losing effort. The result was part of a dominant period for St Helens under coach Ian Millward, who established the club as the outstanding cup side of the mid-2000s, echoing their earlier dominance in the mid-to-late 1990s. Since Super League's 1996 launch, the Challenge Cup has continued to sit alongside the league championship as one of English rugby league's two most prestigious domestic honours, with the final remaining a fixture at Wembley Stadium (barring occasional relocations) and continuing to draw some of the largest single-match crowds anywhere in the sport. 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 103rd Challenge Cup final played, and, under the name “St Helens,” the 9th Challenge Cup title for the club. The result is recorded in this site's full results table alongside every other Challenge Cup final played since the competition's 1896/97 inception, cross-referenced against the venue and attendance figures gathered for that table.
Round by round
Round 1
| Result | Venue | Attendance | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leigh Miners Rangers 52–24 Blackbrook | — | — | 28 Nov 2003 |
| Ince Rose Bridge 28–6 Aberavon | — | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Birkenshaw 22–10 St Albans | Bowling Park | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Dudley Hill 38–8 Embassy | Neil Hunt Memorial Ground | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| East Hull 22–12 British Army | Aldershot Rugby Stadium | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Castleford Panthers 18–10 Shaw Cross | Three Lane Ends | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| East Leeds 20–6 Queens | Easy Road | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Elland 26–12 Kells | Greetland All Rounders Ground | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Featherstone Lions 60–21 Coventry Bears | Lionheart Stadium | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Wath Brow Hornets 18–10 Hensingham | — | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Hunslet Warriors 9–8 Orrell St James | Hunslet Green | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Leigh East 28–10 Milford | — | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Castleford Lock Lane 48–8 Batley Victoria | Lock Lane Sports Centre | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Navy 20–14 Normanton | Belle Vue (Wakefield) | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Oldham St Annes 19–12 Hull Dockers | Higginshaw Road | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Oulton 40–22 Loughborough University | Raider Park | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| RAF 16–12 Underbank | — | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Rochdale Mayfield 51–0 Saddleworth | Shaw Hall Bank Road | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Crosfields 31–2 Sheffield Hills | — | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Siddal 14–2 Simms Cross | — | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| West Bowling 36–4 South London | Frant Road | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Thatto Heath 12–8 Walney | — | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| West Hull 30–8 Askam | — | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Eastmoor 21–2 Widnes Albion | — | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Sharlston Rovers 20–6 Widnes St Maries | — | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Ideal Isberg 17–12 Wigan St Patricks | Clarington Park | — | 29 Nov 2003 |
| Heworth 34–8 Edinburgh | Elm Park Way | — | 30 Nov 2003 |
| Eccles & Salford Juniors 22–18 Woolston | — | — | 6 Dec 2003 |
Round 2
| Result | Venue | Attendance | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dudley Hill 46–6 Birkenshaw | Bowling Park | — | 13 Dec 2003 |
| Crosfields 20–12 Cottingham Phoenix | — | — | 13 Dec 2003 |
| East Hull 46–18 Navy | Eastmount Community Recreation Centre | — | 13 Dec 2003 |
| Featherstone Lions 18–12 East Leeds | Easy Road | — | 13 Dec 2003 |
| Castleford Panthers 11–6 Eccles & Salford Juniors | Moat Hall Sports Centre | — | 13 Dec 2003 |
| Elland 28–4 Eastmoor | Greetland All Rounders Ground | — | 13 Dec 2003 |
| Leigh Miners Rangers 34–6 Siddal | — | — | 13 Dec 2003 |
| Castleford Lock Lane 13–6 Ideal Isberg | Lock Lane Sports Centre | — | 13 Dec 2003 |
| Rochdale Mayfield 20–10 Leigh East | Springhill | — | 13 Dec 2003 |
| Thatto Heath 32–0 RAF | — | — | 13 Dec 2003 |
| Sharlston Rovers 14–9 Oldham St Annes | — | — | 13 Dec 2003 |
| Dinamo 22–18 West Bowling | — | — | 13 Dec 2003 |
| West Hull 76–4 Heworth | — | — | 13 Dec 2003 |
| Ince Rose Bridge 28–14 Hunslet Warriors | Fosters Playing Fields | — | 13 Dec 2003 |
Round 3
| Result | Venue | Attendance | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chorley 54–6 Lokomotiv | Victory Park | 521 | 6 Feb 2004 |
| Sheffield Eagles 14–12 Leigh Miners Rangers | The Coliseum | 591 | 6 Feb 2004 |
| Oldham 16–8 Castleford Panthers | Boundary Park | 1,003 | 6 Feb 2004 |
| Sharlston Rovers 30–28 Dewsbury Rams | Lionheart Stadium | 2,027 | 6 Feb 2004 |
| Hunslet Hawks 32–0 Featherstone Lions | John Charles Centre for Sport | 433 | 7 Feb 2004 |
| London Skolars 22–16 Rochdale Mayfield | New River Stadium | 275 | 7 Feb 2004 |
| Pia 22–20 Barrow Raiders | Craven Park (Barrow) | 921 | 8 Feb 2004 |
| Dudley Hill 16–14 Keighley Cougars | Cougar Park | 1,300 | 8 Feb 2004 |
| Workington Town 46–14 Crosfields | Wilderspool | 768 | 8 Feb 2004 |
| Doncaster 28–6 West Hull | Tattersfield | 839 | 8 Feb 2004 |
| Leigh 64–4 Elland | The Coliseum | 1,365 | 8 Feb 2004 |
| Featherstone Rovers 96–0 Castleford Lock Lane | Lionheart Stadium | 1,576 | 8 Feb 2004 |
| Limoux 26–22 Gateshead Thunder | Gateshead International Stadium | 254 | 8 Feb 2004 |
| Halifax 66–10 Oulton | The Shay | 1,675 | 8 Feb 2004 |
| UTC 23–22 Hull Kingston Rovers | Craven Park (Hull) | 2,066 | 8 Feb 2004 |
| Ince Rose Bridge 8–42 Batley Bulldogs | — | — | 8 Feb 2004 |
| Rochdale Hornets 60–24 Dinamo | — | — | 8 Feb 2004 |
| Swinton 14–26 East Hull | — | — | 8 Feb 2004 |
| Thatto Heath 12–26 Whitehaven | — | — | 8 Feb 2004 |
| York City Knights 28–8 Villeneuve | — | — | 8 Feb 2004 |
Round 4
| Result | Venue | Attendance | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wakefield Trinity 88–6 Chorley | Victory Park | 696 | 27 Feb 2004 |
| Batley Bulldogs 76–14 Dudley Hill | Mount Pleasant | 890 | 28 Feb 2004 |
| Castleford Tigers 32–20 UTC | The Jungle | 3,435 | 28 Feb 2004 |
| St Helens 30–10 Bradford Bulls | Odsal Stadium | 12,215 | 29 Feb 2004 |
| Huddersfield Giants 50–16 Pia | Alfred McAlpine Stadium | 1,392 | 29 Feb 2004 |
| Doncaster 48–20 Hunslet Hawks | John Charles Centre for Sport | 682 | 29 Feb 2004 |
| Hull FC 21–14 Leigh | The Coliseum | 3,324 | 29 Feb 2004 |
| Limoux 19–18 Halifax | Stade de l'Aiguille | 1,200 | 29 Feb 2004 |
| London Broncos 24–8 Salford City Reds | Griffin Park | 2,454 | 29 Feb 2004 |
| Featherstone Rovers 52–6 London Skolars | New River Stadium | 380 | 29 Feb 2004 |
| York City Knights 32–24 Sheffield Eagles | Don Valley Stadium | 764 | 29 Feb 2004 |
| Wigan Warriors 38–12 Widnes Vikings | JJB Stadium | 6,737 | 29 Feb 2004 |
| Leeds Rhinos 68–18 Workington Town | Derwent Park | 4,829 | 29 Feb 2004 |
| Whitehaven 14–4 East Hull | Craven Park (Hull) | 1,400 | 2 Mar 2004 |
| Oldham 24–4 Sharlston Rovers | — | — | 3 Mar 2004 |
| Rochdale Hornets 0–80 Warrington Wolves | — | — | 2 Mar 2004 |
Round 5
| Result | Venue | Attendance | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Helens 24–14 Leeds Rhinos | Knowsley Road | 13,699 | 13 Mar 2004 |
| Whitehaven 29–6 Batley Bulldogs | Mount Pleasant | 1,186 | 14 Mar 2004 |
| York City Knights 29–26 Featherstone Rovers | Lionheart Stadium | 2,234 | 14 Mar 2004 |
| Huddersfield Giants 36–12 Doncaster | Alfred McAlpine Stadium | 3,134 | 14 Mar 2004 |
| Hull FC 26–0 Castleford Tigers | Kingston Communications Stadium | 11,443 | 14 Mar 2004 |
| Wigan Warriors 80–20 Limoux | Stade de l'Aiguille | 2,500 | 14 Mar 2004 |
| Wakefield Trinity 29–10 London Broncos | Griffin Park | 2,654 | 14 Mar 2004 |
| Warrington Wolves 44–10 Oldham | Boundary Park | 2,859 | 14 Mar 2004 |
Quarter-Final
| Result | Venue | Attendance | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wigan Warriors 20–4 Wakefield Trinity | JJB Stadium | 9,728 | 26 Mar 2004 |
| Huddersfield Giants 50–12 York City Knights | Alfred McAlpine Stadium | 4,286 | 28 Mar 2004 |
| St Helens 31–26 Hull FC | Knowsley Road | 11,184 | 28 Mar 2004 |
| Warrington Wolves 42–10 Whitehaven | Recreation Ground (Whitehaven) | 5,328 | 28 Mar 2004 |
Semi-Final
| Result | Venue | Attendance | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wigan Warriors 30–18 Warrington Wolves | Halton Stadium | 11,175 | 18 Apr 2004 |
| St Helens 46–6 Huddersfield Giants | Halliwell Jones Stadium | 13,134 | 25 Apr 2004 |
Final
| Result | Venue | Attendance | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Helens 32–16 Wigan Warriors | Millennium Stadium | 73,734 | 15 May 2004 |
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.