Men's State of Origin : 2025

 The 2025 series had quite a twist to it, as we will see. This article only covers this season. For a brief overview, please click here. If you want the history in detail, then simply click here. Now for the 2025 series.

Game 1: Played in Queensland in front of 52,500 passionate 'Banana Benders'. NSW were all over the locals and having led 14-2 at half time went on to win 18-6. It seemed that NSW were so on top that they didn't press home their advantage fully. I wondered if that would come home to bite them.

Game 2: This match was taken across the country the Perth and there was an impressive attendance of 57,000. Queensland raced to an emphatic 26-6 lead at the break and hung on to win 26-24. To me it seemed that NSW was the better team but were out enthused in the first half. 

Game 3: Having been well beaten first up and sneaked a second game win, Queensland went to NSW with a chance to win the series although overall they had been outplayed by NSW. Queenslanders may question that opinion.

The fact is the Queensland side played the perfect first half and didn't give NSW anything. The 20-0 scoreline looked ominous but NSW came back as expected. However, unlike Perth where Queensland nearly got run down, this time they put in two halves of quality. While they lose the second half 12-4, that was enough run out deserved winners. 

Summary: While NSW should have won this series, they didn't. Were they too confident? I felt the second half of game one turned out to be very important. NSW were totally on top but didn't drive that home. That gave Queensland some belief and by game three, that belief was oozing out of each and every player. 

The game three highlight video is below:

Men's Challenge Cup : 2025

The 2024 Challenge Cup summary can be seen by clicking here. 

Sixty nine teams played seven rounds of matches to decide the winner of the Challenge Cup for 2025. We take up the matches from round five. With Wigan being upset 22-26 by Hull FC, the in form Hull KR was favourite to go all the way.

Quarter finals: The matches were close although the local Hull derby was less so. Remarkably the other three encounters all ended 20-12. With the probelms besetting Salford, the Catalan Dragons were not impressive in their win. KR retained its favourites tag.

Semi finals: KR dealt with not too impressive Dragons while Warrington Wolves prevailed over the Leigh Leopards 21-14. In form Hull KR had been to eight finals, only winning in 1980. Warrington had made twenty finals, winning nine. Their last winning success was a recent 2019.

Final: Over 63,000 fans packed into Wembley Stadium to witness the event. The weather didn't play its part, with wind and rain featuring. Warrington led at half time 6-2 and continued to do so until three minutes remained, when KR scored and took out the match.

There was an issue as to whether the KR try was legitimate. Apparently, a defender must ground the ball with his hand or push it out of bounds to stop it being 'alive' but he only did so with his torso. An attacking player can score using the torso. I'm surprised there is a different rule for the attacker as opposed to the defender. Still, the rules are the rules and they were applied correctly. 

Hull KR have a great side in 2025 but the Challenge Cup trophy almost slipped through their fingers. The Wolves haven't been consistent but have a good side that could have taken the match. Sometimes, the margins in sport are tiny. 

The highlights are below.

Women's Challenge Cup : 2025

For history on the women's Challenge Cup, simply click here. You may want to read that first. 

The 2025 edition was divided into four pools of three teams. Eight of the twelve sides progressed to the semi finals. St Helens have dominated this tournament, winning the the last four finals. Leeds have lost the last three finals to Saints so between those two clubs a likely winner would emerge. Would they make it a fourth final together.

Quarter finals: These went as expected due to the lack of depth in the UK women's game and the best players are not spread around. Only the Leeds v Huddrsfield match having anything like a competitive scoreline.

Semi finals: The big guns assembled for the shoot out. Saints battled past York to secure yet another finals berth but Wigan looked ominous in comfortably despatching a well regarded Leeds outfit.

Final: St Helens may have hoped for a fifth consecutive trophy but Wigan were having none of that. The all Lancs final was decisively won by Wigan 42-6, having led 18-0 at the break. Wigan's first final and victory showed there is a new force in the UK's women's game. 

Highlights can be seen below.