Wigan Warriors chasing more than Challenge Cup glory as exclusive club awaits

Wigan Warriors currently rule the roost in British Rugby League. Super League Champions, League Leaders' Shield holders and World Club Challenge champions, Matt Peet's side have put plenty of silverware in the cabinet in the last nine months.

Saturday's Challenge Cup Final gives them the opportunity to secure a fifth trophy in two years, but more than that, it gives them the chance to secure a clean sweep of trophies that has rarely been achieved before. Should Wigan beat Warrington at Wembley, they will be in possession of every major trophy available.

It is something that has only been achieved twice in history and would put them in an exclusive club featuring two teams widely regarded as being among the best in British rugby league history. If successful, the Warriors will become the first team in 17 years to achieve it.

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The first team to hold all the silverware was Brian Noble's Bradford Bulls side of 2003-04. Completing the treble in 2003, they would have the full set on February 13th the year later. They defeated NRL champions Penrith Panthers 22-4, boasting a wealth of talent that is not only regarded as one of the best in the Super League era, but also in the history of the game.

It was a Bulls team that now features icons of the game. The Volcano, Lesley Vainikolo, ran rampant down the wing, a young Leon Pryce was terrorising defences and in the middle, the Bulls were able to call upon the likes of Stuart Fielden, Jamie Peacock, Joe Vagana and Paul Anderson.

St Helens would go one step better a few years later. Their treble-winning side of 2006 would defeat Brisbane Broncos in Bolton to secure the World Club Challenge in 2007, ensuring they completed their own quadfecta. A great side featuring the likes of Sean Long, Paul Wellens, Keiron Cunningham, and Paul Sculthorpe, Saints also had plenty of emerging talent too, with a young James Graham and James Roby in their ranks.

Where Saints bettered Bradford was the fact that they would go on to retain the Challenge Cup and League Leaders' Shield in 2007, meaning they won six consecutive trophies. Their sequence was ended by Leeds Rhinos in the Grand Final that year.

Many other teams have come close. Leeds' 2004 side had the ability to complete the accomplishment in 2005, but lost the Challenge Cup Final against Hull FC. St Helens also fell short after being unable to win the Challenge Cup in either 2022 or 2023. Of course, many great teams of the past were unable to achieve such an accomplishment, with the Grand Final not being introduced until 1998 and the World Club Challenge not becoming an annual fixture until the turn of the Millennium.

Now, Wigan's young side has the opportunity to put themselves in the same conversation as two iconic teams. Standing in their way are Warrington, who are hoping to end a five year wait for a trophy, having last won the Challenge Cup in 2019.