The Greatest CC Final : Tue Apr 07, 2020 2:48 pm  

Im sure most of you watched the programme on Saturday on the BBC. What do you think is the greatest final? Us against Hull in 85 is always touted as the best but...........................as much as it pains me to say it.... for me it was Bradford v Saints in 96. It had everything you could want from a final.

Re: The Greatest CC Final : Tue Apr 07, 2020 2:53 pm  

Pie_Eyter wrote:

Im sure most of you watched the programme on Saturday on the BBC. What do you think is the greatest final? Us against Hull in 85 is always touted as the best but...........................as much as it pains me to say it.... for me it was Bradford v Saints in 96. It had everything you could want from a final.

From an excitement point of view maybe
But the tries scored in the 85 final were much better IMO
That's why I still think 85 just edges it

Re: The Greatest CC Final : Tue Apr 07, 2020 4:25 pm  

For me it was Murrayfield 2002. My first (winning) Challenge Cup Final after going to my first in 1998 - still pains me to this day that final!

Because it was the first winning one I went to it has to be the most memorable and best. I’ve seen the ‘85 final (4yrs before my time) and it is a spectacle for sure but it doesn’t top 2002 IMO.

The injuries on the day, the fact Saints were heavy favourites and we weren’t meant to win, Radders’ performance, going there with my mates and Dad. No competition for me. Hands down winner.

Re: The Greatest CC Final : Tue Apr 07, 2020 4:27 pm  

2005 was excellent (apart from the result, obviously)

Re: The Greatest CC Final : Tue Apr 07, 2020 4:43 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

For me it was Murrayfield 2002. My first (winning) Challenge Cup Final after going to my first in 1998 - still pains me to this day that final!

Because it was the first winning one I went to it has to be the most memorable and best. I’ve seen the ‘85 final (4yrs before my time) and it is a spectacle for sure but it doesn’t top 2002 IMO.

The injuries on the day, the fact Saints were heavy favourites and we weren’t meant to win, Radders’ performance, going there with my mates and Dad. No competition for me. Hands down winner.

look at the quality of both teams in 85 aswell makes it even more special

Re: The Greatest CC Final : Wed Apr 08, 2020 12:05 pm  

85 for me, purely from a Wigan point of view, the quality of the game, plus we hadn't won it for 20 years, and the previous years disappointment.

Re: The Greatest CC Final : Wed Apr 08, 2020 8:11 pm  

My old fella always says the 1961 cup final was the best he's seen. Any older wigan fans got a view on it ?

Re: The Greatest CC Final : Wed Apr 08, 2020 10:59 pm  

Redvee69 wrote:

My old fella always says the 1961 cup final was the best he's seen. Any older wigan fans got a view on it ?

Yeah. I remember it well and I reckon your old fella is biased.

Re: The Greatest CC Final : Thu Apr 09, 2020 12:15 am  

Redvee69 wrote:

My old fella always says the 1961 cup final was the best he's seen. Any older wigan fans got a view on it ?

Went to all CC finals from 1950 to leaving the UK in 1966. Have since been back from Aus on occasions when Hull FC have played in Wembley finals.

Best by a country mile was the 1985 final.

Having said that the best Wigan team I ever saw in a CC final was in 1959 when they hammered Hull, who in the 50's had the best pack of forwards they have ever had in their history. Led by Brian McTigue they neutralised the Hull forward threat allowing the backs, including Bolton, Ashton, Sullivan and Boston, to run riot. Joe Egan was the Wigan coach.

Re: The Greatest CC Final : Thu Apr 09, 2020 5:44 am  

Freddie Miller. wrote:

Went to all CC finals from 1950 to leaving the UK in 1966. Have since been back from Aus on occasions when Hull FC have played in Wembley finals.

Best by a country mile was the 1985 final.

Having said that the best Wigan team I ever saw in a CC final was in 1959 when they hammered Hull, who in the 50's had the best pack of forwards they have ever had in their history. Led by Brian McTigue they neutralised the Hull forward threat allowing the backs, including Bolton, Ashton, Sullivan and Boston, to run riot. Joe Egan was the Wigan coach.

If the 85 final had finished ten minutes earlier with the score 28-8 to wigan it would have been long forgotten , they refer to the 1979 fa cup final as the two minute final, surely the 85 challenge cup should be referred to as the 10 minute final