The Betfred Challenge Cup may have lost some of its allure over the past two decades, but two men who know all about what it takes to win rugby league’s premiere knock-out competition are relishing the chance to try to rekindle some old magic on Friday.
Brian Noble takes his Bradford Bulls team to a Salford Red Devils side still reeling from ongoing financial concerns which saw them placed back under a sustainability cap and who might seem like prime targets for another upset by the Betfred Championship side, who stunned Castleford Tigers in the third round.
Noble, who guided the Bulls to Challenge Cup glory in 2003 during his first spell as head coach, is not buying into that narrative though, especially having seen the 17-man squad opposite number Paul Rowley was able to name for this tie.
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“With their £1.2million sustainability cap, it’s probably still three times our budget, so let’s put that in perspective,” Noble said.
“The Salford story is well documented, but I’m not buying into that story.
“I’m buying into the fact that when they’re on, Salford are a good team and we want to challenge ourselves against good teams.”
Bradford go into the match at Salford Community Stadium against an opponent whose only win so far this season came in the Cup, when they defeated Betfred League One side Midlands Hurricanes 46-10.
Since then, the Red Devils have lost all four of their Betfred Super League matches, the most recent being a 22-14 loss to Castleford last Friday.
However, the Bulls are seeking a response of their own from a 36-4 loss away to fellow Championship contenders Toulouse Olympique the following day.
While Noble wants a much improved display from his team irrespective of the result, he sees there being less expectation on the Bulls at Salford.
“In theory, we’ve got nothing to lose, so the pressure of performance is less than the week in, week out, two-point scenario for me,” Noble said.
“In many respects, this is a free hit. The only pressure we’re under is to play a whole lot better than last week and compete, and I know if we do the things we do well we will compete.
“It’s going to be interesting and I’m looking forward to it.”
Also flying the flag for the Championship on Friday night are Oldham, a club back on the up following promotion from League One last season but who have not reached the Challenge Cup quarter-finals since 2008 and the last of whose three Cup triumphs came in 1927.
At the helm these days is Sean Long, a five-time Challenge Cup winner with St Helens and the only player to be awarded the Lance Todd Trophy for player of the match in the final three times.
Long’s side could hardly have been given a much tougher task that last year’s Grand Finalists and 2023 Challenge Cup runners-up Hull KR, who have four wins out of four in Super League so far and saw off another Championship side in York Knights 44-2 in the last round.
However, the former Great Britain international is not fazed by what lies in store at Sewell Group Craven Park.
“I always get excited or I wouldn’t be doing the job,” Long, whose side reached the last 16 with 42-4 win over Barrow Raiders, told Roughyeds TV.
“We know it’s tough challenge against Hull KR. They’re absolutely flying they’re a strong team.
“We know we’re going to be up against it, but it’s a great occasion for us to go up there to Hull KR and play in front of a real boisterous crowd, and they won’t be taking it lightly.
“It’s a Cup game, anything can happen, we’re going to go out there and have a dig.”
