As a Parramatta child growing up Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling were my idols. They gave my eels the greatest memories of our club history. To see these 2 greats go head to head and play so brilliantly makes me proud, I only wish we had 2 like them now
As a Westy from Parramatta, though a Western Suburbs fan I still get goosebumps. I remember getting up early morning as a 9 year old being beyond words. Miss those days
Was there in 85 with my mates cheering on the Cherry and Whites, was 17 at the time! Best Challenge Cup Final ever featuring some of the finest rugby players, Brett Kenny, Peter Stirling, John Ferguson and special mention to Gilly for that GRIN!! Oh and 100,000 fans creating best atmosphere ever!!!!!! It was played on the 4th May 1985, there was a big red and white banner at the Wigan end stating: "May The Fourth Be With You!" Had a great crack afterwards with the Hull fans having a few beers!! Great memories.
Brett Kenny use to read comics and fall asleep in changing sheds before going out and playing a blinder.Coolest laid back dude that ever played the game.
I watched this game before I wemt to school it was on overl here in N.Z at 6.00 am. I played for Richmond Rovers here in Auckland and so did a lot of my school mate's which is Fred ah kuoi's club where his family are a huge part of and have a big footprint there to this day,But him and the great James leuluai (the finisher) were our favorites.Fred came home in 1987 to retire at the club he started at Richmond Rovers. He only ever played for 3 club's North Sydney was the other. Hes was a brilliant footballer but even better ... a lovely wonderful man.
Watched this game when i was 14 , was delayed coverage in nz i think , man game was that good my older brother sill has it on videotape , great memories miss the 80's
This is the greatest Rugby league match i have seen out of the UK . I rate this second to the 1989 Grandfinal between Balmain and Canberra which was played at the Sydney football Stadium.Balmain had Andy Currier from Widnes and Shaun Edwards was on the bench.Canberra won in extra time. The challenge cups were great when they were played in may and covered by the BBC. Brett kenny was magic in this final , Shaun Edwards was energetic and Peter Sterling was all class in a losing side. It is sad what has happened to the Challenge Cup Final , Wembley is never full anymore. The twin towers and the hallowed turf of wembley.
surprised there isn't more love for chicka ferguson in the comments. what an exceptional player. if they had a highlights real from those days of chicka it would be longer than 'titantic' and 10000x more dynamic.
So many great players on both teams . I’m a Wigan born Wigan fan, still am. I went to see this game with my family as a kid, one of the best days of my life b Kenny was my hero , and still is. Kenny, Sterling, Ferguson, muggleton great Aussie players . Plus the likes of leuluai, Kemble, , Edward’s, Still the best challenge cup final in my opinion. My dad was childhood friends with the Wigan physio, and Mike ford went to play in Australia just after this season. For my birthday he got him to bring me back a signed parramatta shirt , a great childhood memory for me. Never forget that.🫡
Back in the days when the Challenge Cup final was one of the great British sporting occasions and was everything to League fans. How sad to see it in decline. OK the final crowds are still big but it doesn't attract the crowds in earlier rounds and it no longer is the be all and end all.
Great memories I will cherish to my dying day... Kennys slouch and masterful stand off play. Peter Sterling simply brilliant in a losing side. Gillys try a classic pin your ears back and GO effort and that grin! 'Chika' Ferguson stepping around 'the best wingman in the world' Hull never giving up and my heart being in my mouth when Steve Evans made that half break at the end. Dave Stephenson chest puffed out face full of pride and joy as Westy receives the cup, I am proud to say I was there (25)
I was there as a child on a school trip, £2 ticket and £6 coach, them were the days, all i remember is it being very warm, and I think some older lads had bottles of beer on the coach and they pi&&ing in the empty bottles, lol, , my mum and and dad could never afford the weeks holidays to france or switzerland, so this was the best I got, I think my gran payed the money, I was 12, so thanks to gran, mum and dad, you did your best, I hope your all ok in heaven now, I love you loads!!!!
Great video of a great game.And wonderful memories for me.I remember staying up late and watching this game-I'm Australian.Lots of big name players(I can't believe Scofield couldn't make the run on side)and an incredible finish.Great to see Chicka Ferguson weave his magic on the big stage in England.
I watched this game on tele in 85 as a teenager, and it still is for me one of my top 5 rugby league matches. Legendary names - Sterling, Kenny, Leuluai, Ah Kuoi, Norton, Crooks, Ferguson etc. Great to see it on RU-vid 👏🏼
I watched it as a 9 year old very early in the morning in Sydney. So exciting watching 100000 (99996 I think) fans. Why can't more English appreciate the game? The action can't come close in football games. You notice the fans of league have less chances to sing , like in football, as there is too much to cheer for.
Tribalism within soccer is strong, but a lot of the problem as experienced in Australia now is indifference to widening the game nationally beyond the traditional boundaries (See Perth). In the 1950s league was massive in the UK, 1949 had seen the highest ever attendance figures of circa 8 million the tours down under were back page news on the broadsheets and got national coverage in the news. Sadly the sports governance was through the big clubs chairmen and they didn't want expansionism, we had the chance again in the 80s and even in the early 90s but again zilch. and come the onset of a more organised rugby union and them officially turning professional, league have been clawing to stand still ever since over here. There is now literally nothing that can be done on any real scale, it's too little too late and we are feeding off crumbs with a likely reduced TV deal that isn't that great to start with! And that's all down to insular/no risk/no plan thinking, watched the game since a 9 year old in '78 (And I got to meet the Stanton led side on their coach as my Aunt worked at the Hull FC club at the time and it was after the tour club game at hull), played a little bit and still have a go at masters but there's no hope to expand the game from the amateur level in the regions away from the North as the sport simply doesn't have the money nor the people to take it forward, very sad reality.
Brett Kenny, what can you say? How he is never considered for Immortal status is beyond me. Interesting footnote: when ever Kenny was picked at 5/8 for NSW in Origin they won against King Wally's QLD, everytime. When asked as to the best he ever played against, the King said Brett Kenny first, daylight second.
best challenge cup final ever, was there as a 10 year old , was very hot sunny day, I got the sun stroke I also remember being high up sat down in the seats, sterling, Kenny, Edwards 3 of the best half backs ever to play rugby league , Kenny won the lance todd trophy in front of a record attendance of 99,801, met some good hull fans of the same age at the time for photographs , great days that are sadly missed. hull could of / should of won that day if crooks would off put the 4 or 5 conversions away he missed.
Hull missed all 5 of their conversion attempts, while Wigan missed 3 of their 5 conversion attempts. That in the end was the difference between the 2 sides in a magnificent final
Kemble had only just back from injury and was his first match back, wasn't match fit and did well to get even close to Kenny & Gill. Classic final, gutted as I'd travelled up on my own as a near 16yr old having my first cans of beer on the train..lol
I honestly believe super league is killing the game , I remember going to Wembley in 87 to watch Halifax vs wigan , every challenge cup game was packed out , no more Lancashire and Yorkshire cup , no more regal cup , I just think the game as taken a massive step back and it's really sad , just hope it turns a courner
@Dennis Thompson I enjoy watching the nrl, just the level and intensity of the game in the nrl , is a different class , I just find it sad on a British note , that we are no where near the Aussies, I know we got beat in the 80s and 90s , but we want that far , we had some outstanding players, but whilst we have taken a step back in the game , you're boys have taken it to a whole new level . The boxing day game in this country in the north was one of the most iconic games of the season, go have a beer with yer pals then go back home see the family have yer meal , out on the night time . It was a full day of a job , now the boxing day clash is a friendly and more than likely most of the time its kids there send out and rest the first time , its pretty heartbreaking to watch the game I love be on the decline
Great game by both star studded teams. But Wigans cup achievements are massively over hyped, the ONLY professional team in RL for years, all other teams had players with 2 jobs, not this overrated mob, great players all the same, but it's like tyson fury fighting a post man
Rubbish, Leeds went fully pro a year before Wigan in '93, Wigan went fully pro in '94 when Farrell jacked it in as a joiner. Right through the 80's nearly all of the Wigan players had jobs. Andy Gregory was scrap metal merchant, Shaun Edwards a goundsman. There was only Hanley who was fully pro when he signed for Wigan in '85.
