Will an underdog bring the glamour of the Challenge Cup back?

Now the farce of when the draw for the Tetley’s Challenge Cup quarter-finals will take place is finally over, is it actually possible that this year’s Final will not feature one of the so-called big five?

The Challenge Cup, in my eyes, is still a very important trophy and the chance to play at Wembley Stadium should not be taken lightly, but after what has gone on this week it feels that the coveted trophy is not being taken seriously at all.

Can you think of any other professional sport that doesn’t have a permanent plan in place for the next round of top class competition. The RFL this week made an announcement nearly 48 hours after all the fifth round matches had been completed of when the draw would be, not the actually draw, but when it would be done.

To me that is just ridiculous, when you attend a Challenge Cup match you want to be leaving the ground knowing when the draw is being held. I had texts and emails for two days saying ‘do we know anything’ or ‘do the RFL really know what they are doing?’ And then for the RFL to organise it nearly a week later just doesn’t make sense.

Who is making these decisions?

Surely the Challenge Cup needs to be treated with more respect. The fifth round of the Challenge Cup was a farce as it was broadcast live on BBC Five Live only for the presenter to fluff his lines, insult a legend of the game and was more interested in apologising to viewers that the draw was happening – Now we are giving the BBC the opportunity to mend some bridges, or quite possibly bury the sport even further.

The draw will be held this Saturday live on BBC TV between 7.00am and 9.00am – see still not a guaranteed time slot.

OK, this was not supposed to be an RFL bashing piece I seem to have gone off track. Would this competition gain some more credibility if London Broncos, Hull FC or Sheffield Eagles made the showpiece August Final rather than Warrington Wolves, Wigan Warriors or Huddersfield Giants?

I say this because we have just witnessed Wigan Athletic win the FA Cup for the first time in their history beating Manchester City – The Latics were massive underdogs and had the majority of the sporting world behind them and hoping they would cause an upset.

Wigan Athletic just being in the Final gave some credibility back to that tournament as it sent out a message that anyone can in the big prizes if you put the hard work in.

Maybe that is what the Challenge Cup needs – Victory for London Broncos at Wembley could bring more fans to the game in the capital, a win for the Black & Whites could unleash a sleeping giant.

Warrington and Wigan reaching Wembley may be a classic but it will only get the normal viewers tuning in. In my opinion more people would watch if there were two new teams walking out or even just one – the interest in a London versus Wigan final would generate plenty of interest all because of the underdog factor.

The Broncos could be the Wigan Athletic of rugby league – upset the big boys and send a message in our sport that the top teams can be caught with a bit of hard work.

What do you think – Do you believe the Challenge Cup will get more respectability back with two lesser names competing or are you praying for a Wigan v Warrington final?

David Kuzio is a published rugby league fan and journalist who now writes for the popular sport website Livestreamingsport.com.