Hull FC 12-10 Warrington Wolves — 2016 Challenge Cup Final

Wembley Stadium, London · Attendance: 76,235

Data last verified: 11 August 2026.

2016 Challenge Cup Final: Hull FC 12-10 Warrington Wolves, at Wembley Stadium, London.

Sourcing caveat: Precise minutes for Fonua's and Shaul's tries could not be confirmed beyond approximate descriptions. Lineups added from Rugby League Project's match-page team sheets — squad numbers are non-sequential (e.g. Hull FC's 19, 21, 24, 30; Warrington's 1, 6, 24, 33) confirming they are genuine shirt numbers, not a position-order renumbering.

Scorers

Hull FCTries: Mahe Fonua (after 60'); Jamie Shaul (late)
Goals: Marc Sneyd (2 goals from 2 attempts)
Warrington WolvesTries: Matty Russell (34'); Ben Currie
Goals: Kurt Gidley (1 goal from 3 attempts)

Teams

Hull FCWarrington Wolves
1Jamie ShaulFullbackStefan Ratchford6
19Steve MichaelsWingMatthew Russell5
2Mahe FonuaCentreToby King24
24Kirk YeamanCentreRyan Atkins4
5Fetuli TalanoaWingRhys Evans3
3Carlos TuimavaveFive-eighthKurt Gidley1
7Marc SneydHalfbackChris Sandow7
8Scott TaylorFront rowChris Hill8
9Danny HoughtonHookerDaryl Clark9
10Liam WattsFront rowAshton Sims10
21Sika ManuSecond rowBen Currie11
12Mark MinichielloSecond rowJack Hughes12
11Gareth EllisLockJoe Westerman14
Substitutes
22Josh BowdenGeorge King18
23Frank PritchardBrad Dwyer16
30Danny WashbrookBen Westwood13
15Chris GreenRyan Bailey33
Lee RadfordCoachTony Smith

Match officials

RefereeGareth Hewer
Lance Todd TrophyMarc Sneyd (Hull FC) — Lance Todd Trophy

Match report

Hull FC produced a dramatic second-half comeback to beat Warrington Wolves 12-10, winning their first Challenge Cup at Wembley since the 1980s. Warrington led 10-0 at the break through tries from Matty Russell and Ben Currie, but Hull, driven by Marc Sneyd's tactical kicking game, hit back through Mahe Fonua and a late Jamie Shaul try to snatch the lead. Sneyd's two conversions and composure under pressure, including a match-defining kick with around five minutes remaining, proved decisive, and he was named Lance Todd Trophy winner. Hull captain Gareth Ellis lifted the trophy at the third attempt after two previous final defeats, ending a long Wembley drought for the club. The narrow, high-tension finish contrasted sharply with the one-sided finals either side of it (2015's 50-0 and 2013's 16-0) and was regarded as one of the more dramatic finishes of the decade. 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 115th Challenge Cup final played, and, under the name “Hull FC,” the 4th Challenge Cup title for the club.

Round by round

Round 1

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Northumbria Uni 42–16 AberdeenWoodside Sports Complex——
Oulton 32–0 East LeedsRichmond Hill——
Egremont 64–0 Blue BellsGillfoot Park——
Hull Dockers 8–6 ThornhillThe Willows Sports & Social Club——
Kells 30–0 Nott. OutlawsOld Arrowthwaite——
Underbank 20–14 Leigh Miners R.Twist Lane——
Shaw Cross 22–14 London ChargersOld Blues RFC——
Millom 32–14 Hull UniCoronation Field——
Distington 31–18 NormantonNormanton Amateur Rugby Club——
Featherstone Lions 20–18 NavyVictory Stadium——
Pilkington Recs 28–16 StanningleyThe Arthur Miller Stadium——
Hun. Parkside 23–16 Thatto HeathHattons Solicitors Crusaders Park——
Wath Brow Hornets 26–4 RAFCleator Moor Ground——
Lock Lane 16–0 West BowlingProvident Stadium——
Rochdale Mayfield 38–20 Widnes W BankTed Gleave Sports Ground——
Siddal 30–4 British ArmyAldershot Military Stadium——
West Hull 36–4 British PoliceWalter Simpson Park——
York Acorn 36–10 Sharlston RoversAcorn Sports & Social Club——

Round 2

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Rochdale Mayfield 26–22 EgremontGillfoot Park—13 Feb 2016
Featherstone Lions 14–12 Hull DockersThe Willows Sports & Social Club—13 Feb 2016
West Hull 19–18 Hunslet Club ParksideHillidge Road—13 Feb 2016
Kells 42–6 Underbank RangersOld Arrowthwaite—13 Feb 2016
Pilkington Recreation 46–12 MillomCoronation Field—13 Feb 2016
Castleford Lock Lane 40–6 Shaw Cross SharksShaw Cross Playing Fields—13 Feb 2016
Siddal 18–16 Northumbria UniversitySiddal Sports & Community Centre—13 Feb 2016
Wath Brow Hornets 30–4 Oulton RaidersCleator Moor Ground—13 Feb 2016
York Acorn 28–10 DistingtonAcorn Sports & Social Club—13 Feb 2016

Round 3

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Featherstone Lions 37–20 South WalesMillpond Stadium40027 Feb 2016
Rochdale 40–14 Rochdale MayfieldMayfield Sports Centre93727 Feb 2016
Siddal 30–4 NewcastleReactiv Park40527 Feb 2016
Toulouse 32–14 Wath Brow HornetsCleator Moor Ground40027 Feb 2016
Kells 12–6 HemelCopeland Stadium25027 Feb 2016
Pilkington Recs 13–0 LondonRuskin Park50027 Feb 2016
Hunslet 46–12 BarrowJohn Charles Centre for Sport35428 Feb 2016
Keighley 54–28 CoventryCougar Park42128 Feb 2016
Gloucestershire 40–36 North WalesGlyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium32428 Feb 2016
Lock Lane 37–22 OxfordBraywick Park5528 Feb 2016
Doncaster 54–0 West HullWalter Simpson Park26828 Feb 2016
York City 66–0 York AcornBootham Crescent2,29328 Feb 2016

Round 4

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Hunslet 48–6 DoncasterJohn Charles Centre for Sport33718 Mar 2016
Dewsbury 31–30 BradfordTetley's Stadium2,02118 Mar 2016
Lock Lane 30–16 Featherstone LionsBig Fellas Stadium1,73819 Mar 2016
Halifax 78–0 Pilkington RecsLangtree Park83719 Mar 2016
Batley 37–36 WhitehavenFox's Biscuits Stadium45719 Mar 2016
Sheffield 32–28 SwintonSheffield Hallam University Sports Park41219 Mar 2016
Toulouse 62–28 GloucestershireStade Ernest-Argeles1,05319 Mar 2016
Leigh 68–14 WorkingtonLeigh Sports Village Stadium2,04919 Mar 2016
Featherstone 48–26 LondonTrailfinders Sports Ground29419 Mar 2016
Oldham 40–6 KellsBower Fold38520 Mar 2016
Rochdale 48–20 SiddalSpotland Stadium65320 Mar 2016
York City 20–12 KeighleyBootham Crescent62420 Mar 2016

Round 5

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Dewsbury 30–16 York CityTetley's Stadium70715 Apr 2016
Wakefield Trinity 44–10 SheffieldRapid Solicitors Stadium2,25715 Apr 2016
Oldham 36–22 Hull KRLightstream Stadium3,05616 Apr 2016
Toulouse 10–8 LeighStade Ernest-Argeles2,13316 Apr 2016
Batley 28–10 FeatherstoneFox's Biscuits Stadium1,46116 Apr 2016
Halifax 80–4 Lock LaneThe Shay1,10817 Apr 2016
Salford 50–14 HunsletJohn Charles Centre for Sport83417 Apr 2016
Widnes 62–6 RochdaleSpotland Stadium1,24217 Apr 2016

Round 6

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Batley Bulldogs 4–40 Catalans DragonsFox's Biscuits Stadium1,2496 May 2016
Huddersfield Giants 36–22 Leeds RhinosJohn Smith's Stadium4,9796 May 2016
Castleford Tigers 32–18 Salford Red DevilsMend-A-Hose Jungle3,3177 May 2016
Warrington Wolves 70–10 OldhamBower Fold2,3947 May 2016
Wakefield Trinity 40–22 Toulouse OlympiqueRapid Solicitors Stadium2,5398 May 2016
Wigan Warriors 54–4 Dewsbury RamsTetley's Stadium3,1028 May 2016
Widnes Vikings 28–18 Halifax RLFCThe Shay2,0328 May 2016
Hull FC 47–18 St HelensLangtree Park7,0948 May 2016

Quarter-Final

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Wakefield Trinity 28–16 HuddersfieldJohn Smith's Stadium3,28923 Jun 2016
Warrington 20–18 WidnesHalliwell Jones Stadium7,77324 Jun 2016
Hull FC 22–8 CatalansKCOM Stadium9,63925 Jun 2016
Wigan 26–12 CastlefordDW Stadium8,01025 Jun 2016

Semi-Final

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Hull FC 16–12 WiganKeepmoat Stadium10,48829 Jul 2016
Warrington 56–12 Wakefield TrinityLeigh Sports Village Stadium10,35830 Jul 2016

Final

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Hull FC 12–10 Warrington WolvesWembley Stadium76,23527 Aug 2016

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

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