Wigan Warriors 28-18 Leeds Rhinos — 2011 Challenge Cup Final

Wembley Stadium, London · Attendance: 78,482

Data last verified: 11 August 2026.

2011 Challenge Cup Final: Wigan Warriors 28-18 Leeds Rhinos, at Wembley Stadium, London.

Sourcing caveat: Kevin Sinfield's exact goal tally for Leeds is uncertain — a sourced figure of 2 does not cleanly reconcile with Leeds' point total against 4 confirmed tries, so it is not stated as a precise number. Lineups added from Rugby League Project's match-page team sheets, which list genuine club squad numbers (non-sequential, e.g. Wigan's 25, 17, 15) rather than a position-order 1-13 renumbering, so no re-fetch was required to confirm they were literal.

Scorers

Wigan WarriorsTries: Josh Charnley (9'); Jeff Lima (24'); Joel Tomkins (28'); Jeff Lima (62'); Tommy Leuluai (78')
Goals: Pat Richards (4 goals)
Leeds RhinosTries: Ryan Hall (35'); Ben Jones-Bishop (37'); Carl Ablett (53'); Ryan Hall (71')
Goals: Kevin Sinfield (goals; exact tally uncertain, see caveat)

Teams

Wigan WarriorsLeeds Rhinos
1Sam TomkinsFullbackBrent Webb1
25Josh CharnleyWingBen Jones-Bishop23
12Joel TomkinsCentreKallum Watkins19
4George CarmontCentreCarl Ablett12
5Pat RichardsWingRyan Hall5
6Paul DeaconFive-eighthKevin Sinfield (c)13
17Brett FinchHalfbackDanny McGuire6
15Jeff LimaFront rowKylie Leuluai8
7Thomas LeuluaiHookerDanny Buderus9
10Andy ColeyFront rowJamie Peacock10
11Harrison HansenSecond rowJamie Jones-Buchanan11
16Ryan HoffmanSecond rowBrett Delaney3
13Sean O'Loughlin (c)LockWeller Hauraki20
Substitutes
22Liam FarrellRob Burrow7
21Lee MossopRyan Bailey16
9Mike McIlorumIan Kirke17
14Paul PrescottChris Clarkson21
Michael MaguireCoachBrian McDermott

Match officials

RefereePhil Bentham
Lance Todd TrophyJeff Lima (Wigan) — Lance Todd Trophy, the fifth New Zealander and first prop forward since 1980 to win it

Match report

Wigan Warriors won a record 18th Challenge Cup, edging out Leeds Rhinos 28-18 in an entertaining, high-scoring final. Wigan led 16-10 at half-time on the back of a Josh Charnley try, a Jeff Lima double either side of the break, and what was described as one of the great Wembley tries from Joel Tomkins. Leeds, through Ryan Hall's brace and further tries from Ben Jones-Bishop and Carl Ablett, twice threatened to peg the gap back to two points, but a contentious late try from Tommy Leuluai settled the contest in Wigan's favour. Prop forward Jeff Lima's two-try, high-impact display saw him take the Lance Todd Trophy, an unusual honour for a front-rower. The result extended Wigan's all-time record as the competition's most successful club. 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 110th Challenge Cup final played, and, under the name “Wigan Warriors,” the 2nd Challenge Cup title for the club.

Round by round

Qualifier Round

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Eccles & Salford Jrs 26–6 Castleford PanthersMoat Hall—08 Jan 2011
Millom 6–12 EgremontCoronation Field—08 Jan 2011
Ovenden 26–28 Rochdale MayfieldFour Fields—08 Jan 2011
Shaw Cross 20–21 StanleyPaul Hinchliffe—08 Jan 2011
St Albans 22–34 British PolicePennine Way—09 Jan 2011
Bank Quay 26–18 Seaton RangersDallam—15 Jan 2011
Oulton 23–22 NormantonRaider Park—15 Jan 2011
Loughborough Uni 38–0 Featherstone LionsLoughborough Uni—16 Jan 2011
Northampton Demons 46–10 Gloucester UniRushmills—16 Jan 2011

Round 1

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Drighlington 12–13 Hunslet WarriorsWakefield Road—22 Jan 2011
East Hull 24–10 SaddleworthRosmead Sports—22 Jan 2011
East Leeds 36–6 CrosfieldsRichmond Hill—22 Jan 2011
Elland 16–20 Thatto HeathGreetland Comm—22 Jan 2011
Fryston 30–4 StanningleyAskham—22 Jan 2011
Leigh East 58–6 HeworthLedgard Street—22 Jan 2011
Leigh Miners R. 26–10 West HullTwist Lane—22 Jan 2011
Myton 34–0 Wigan Rose BridgeMarist Sporting—22 Jan 2011
Oldham St Annes 16–20 Hull DockersHigginshaw Road—22 Jan 2011
Rochdale Mayfield 38–14 Bank QuayMayfield Sports—22 Jan 2011
Skirlaugh 16–14 OultonEast Side—22 Jan 2011
Loughborough Uni 18–10 KippaxLoughborough Uni—23 Jan 2011
Northampton Demons 12–26 Leeds Met UniRushmills—23 Jan 2011
Nott. Outlaws 30–32 RAFHighfields—23 Jan 2011
Navy 28–14 British PoliceTorpoint—23 Jan 2011
Uni of Blackpool 12–20 Northumbria UniUCLan Arena—23 Jan 2011
Valley Cougars 24–30 British ArmyPenalta RFC—23 Jan 2011
Warrington Wizards 44–18 CarlukeWilderspool—23 Jan 2011
Eccles & Salford Jrs 6–30 Wigan St PatsMoat Hall—29 Jan 2011
Stanley 24–10 Widnes St MariesStanley—29 Jan 2011
Wigan St Judes 22–20 West BowlingParsons Meadow—29 Jan 2011
Lock Lane 38–4 Simms CrossLock Lane Sports—30 Jan 2011
Siddal 58–18 EastmoorSiddal Sports—30 Jan 2011
Waterhead 24–28 EgremontWaterhead Park—30 Jan 2011
Wath Brow Hornets 18–0 NorlandCleator Moor—30 Jan 2011
Edge Hill Uni 6–32 Hull UniOrmskirk RFC—02 Feb 2011

Round 2

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
British Army 27–16 RAFAldershot—05 Feb 2011
East Hull 31–22 MytonRosmead Sports—05 Feb 2011
East Leeds 4–64 Hull DockersRichmond Hill—05 Feb 2011
Egremont 22–10 Wath Brow HornetsRecreation Gnd—05 Feb 2011
Hunslet Warriors 22–16 Wigan St JudesThe Oval—05 Feb 2011
Leigh East 16–18 Thatto HeathLedgard Street—05 Feb 2011
Lock Lane 18–16 StanleyLock Lane Sports—05 Feb 2011
Wigan St Pats 16–18 Leigh Miners R.Clarington—05 Feb 2011
York Acorn 24–35 MilfordThanet Road—05 Feb 2011
Leeds Met Uni 44–14 Hull UniBeckett Park—06 Feb 2011
Loughborough Uni 18–25 Northumbria UniHolywell Park—06 Feb 2011
Warrington Wizards 28–20 NavyWilderspool—06 Feb 2011
Kells 14–22 Dudley HillRecreation Gnd—12 Feb 2011
Milford 24–16 SkirlaughMilford Sports—12 Feb 2011
Rochdale Mayfield 12–25 SiddalMayfield Sports—12 Feb 2011
Fryston 16–12 Dudley HillAskham—19 Feb 2011

Round 3

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Doncaster 34–22 Thatto HeathKeepmoat Stadium35205 Mar 2011
Featherstone Rovers 86–0 British ArmyBig Fellas Stadium72305 Mar 2011
Keighley Cougars 16–10 Toulouse OlympiqueCougar Park47905 Mar 2011
Leigh Miners R. 26–56 Barrow RaidersLeigh Sports Village63305 Mar 2011
London Skolars 60–24 EgremontNew River Stadium34205 Mar 2011
Milford 16–38 Gateshead ThunderWest Park40005 Mar 2011
Swinton Lions 44–4 East HullThe Willows30505 Mar 2011
Whitehaven 14–27 Lézignan SangliersRecreation Ground65105 Mar 2011
Batley Bulldogs 64–10 FrystonLove RL Stadium77406 Mar 2011
Halifax 76–6 Lock LaneThe Shay1,68406 Mar 2011
Hunslet Hawks 48–10 Warrington WizardsJohn Charles Stadium31606 Mar 2011
Leigh Centurions 68–24 Hull DockersLeigh Sports Village1,08306 Mar 2011
Northumbria Uni 0–132 York City KnightsHuntington Stadium43406 Mar 2011
Oldham 28–16 Hunslet WarriorsWhitebank Stadium53806 Mar 2011
Rochdale Hornets 22–20 Workington TownSpotland35806 Mar 2011
Sheffield Eagles 82–0 Leeds Met UniDon Valley Stadium35006 Mar 2011
Siddal 6–54 Widnes VikingsThe Shay95106 Mar 2011
South Wales Scorpions 6–62 Dewsbury RamsGnoll Stadium35606 Mar 2011

Round 4

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Gateshead Thunder 0–70 Harlequins RLGateshead International Stadium40206 May 2011
Leigh Centurions 16–22 Catalans DragonsLeigh Sports Village2,23706 May 2011
Hull FC 82–0 OldhamKC Stadium6,23507 May 2011
Leeds Rhinos 30–20 CrusadersHeadingley10,95407 May 2011
St Helens 52–26 Sheffield EaglesLangtree Park3,56307 May 2011
Featherstone Rovers 42–16 Lézignan SangliersBig Fellas Stadium82707 May 2011
Batley Bulldogs 18–28 Huddersfield GiantsLove RL Stadium2,67608 May 2011
Dewsbury Rams 38–44 Swinton LionsTetley's Stadium69208 May 2011
Doncaster 10–50 Wakefield Trinity WildcatsKeepmoat Stadium1,82308 May 2011
Halifax 34–46 Bradford BullsThe Shay5,04508 May 2011
Hunslet Hawks 2–68 Salford City RedsJohn Charles Stadium64908 May 2011
London Skolars 18–62 Widnes VikingsNew River Stadium41508 May 2011
Rochdale Hornets 10–72 Castleford TigersSpotland1,67508 May 2011
Warrington Wolves 80–0 Keighley CougarsHalliwell Jones Stadium6,58308 May 2011
Wigan Warriors 52–0 Barrow RaidersDW Stadium8,02608 May 2011
York City Knights 22–64 Hull Kingston RoversHuntington Stadium2,46308 May 2011

Round 5

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Leeds Rhinos 40–20 Harlequins RLHeadingley7,14720 May 2011
Salford City Reds 0–25 Hull Kingston RoversThe Willows2,08720 May 2011
Warrington Wolves 112–0 Swinton LionsHalliwell Jones Stadium4,44020 May 2011
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 18–20 Castleford TigersRapid Solicitors Stadium6,60421 May 2011
Widnes Vikings 26–50 Hull FCStobart Stadium3,38721 May 2011
Bradford Bulls 22–26 Wigan WarriorsOdsal5,82822 May 2011
Huddersfield Giants 30–16 Catalans DragonsGalpharm Stadium3,09822 May 2011
St Helens 70–0 Featherstone RoversLangtree Park2,90522 May 2011

Quarter Final

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Warrington Wolves 24–44 Wigan WarriorsHalliwell Jones Stadium13,10523 Jul 2011
Castleford Tigers 22–18 Huddersfield GiantsPROBIZ Coliseum6,33624 Jul 2011
Hull FC 22–38 Leeds RhinosKC Stadium9,49624 Jul 2011
St Helens 54–6 Hull Kingston RoversLangtree Park6,44924 Jul 2011

Semi Final

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Castleford Tigers 8–10 Leeds RhinosKeepmoat Stadium13,15806 Aug 2011
Wigan Warriors 18–12 St HelensHalliwell Jones Stadium12,71306 Aug 2011

Final

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Leeds Rhinos 18–28 Wigan WarriorsWembley Stadium78,48227 Aug 2011

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.

Sources

← All Challenge Cup Finals