Guess who’s back | George Williams returns in time for Warrington’s Betfred Challenge Cup Final

It was mind over matter for the Wolves captain as he sets his sights on another Wembley appearance...

It’s time to get excited Warrington fans, because captain George is back in time for the big one!

Influential Warrington Wolves and England skipper, George Williams, has declared himself fit and ready to go for Saturday’s Betfred Challenge Cup Final against Hull KR.

Their main playmaker has been on fast-track to recovery ever since he suffered an ankle injury in April that required surgery.

And his return for the side's biggest game of the season will be a huge boost to Warrington and the club’s hopes of righting their wrongs from last year’s final loss to Wigan Warriors.

 

 

“Yes, I am back, and yes, I’m really excited,” Williams said.

“It’s one that where we want to right some wrongs of last year where we lost to Wigan. It’s a similar group and we want to go back there and lift the trophy this time.

“Going to Wembley is always good but winning it will of course taste that little bit better!”

On his remarkable recovery time, Williams explained:

“I managed to shave a week or two off the normal healing time. You’re meant to be on crutches for two weeks, but I was walking after one!

“It was pretty painful, I can’t lie, but the surgeon stressed to me that it was fixed, so it was just a pain thing, really.

“I think I'm quite mentally strong and I think it's easy when you've got a goal of Wembley – if you do everything you can to be able to play at Wembley, then you do it!

“It’s been an easy motivation for me to do the right thing every day to get back. It’s not all about me though – I’m glad I’m playing in the team, but we’ve still got sixteen other players out there that will have to make sure they play well too!”

 

 

The Wire captain admitted it’s been tough having to watch his team from the sidelines, especially with Warrington’s up and down performances in recent weeks.

They will, however, be boosted by their win last weekend against Castleford Tigers in Round 13 of the Betfred Super League, meaning they head to Wembley this weekend with momentum swinging in the right direction.

“I’m a bad watcher – that’s been the hardest thing on game day – being there and not playing and not being able to influence what’s going on or the result. I’m really glad I’m back in the mix and won’t be having to just watch anymore!

“Our season so far has been a bit of a rollercoaster. We’ve been hit and miss and then at times we’ve obviously been plagued with injuries.

“I was out, there’s Danny Walker out, Matty Ashton is out for the season and then there’s four or five in between that keep dropping out.

“It’s not an excuse, but it’s a reality. Obviously, the final is this weekend, so we want to win that and then really kick on for that top six, top four and see where we go.”

 

 

The Wolves are preparing for back-to-back cup finals and are searching for their first win at Wembley since 2019.

For Williams, there’s an additional drive, for he has never, personally, lifted the coveted Challenge Cup trophy.

He may have been a part of Wigan Warriors’ wider squad that won the final in 2013 but never featured in the match day squad.

“I think we [Warrington] learned a lot about ourselves last year. We went into the 2024 final very confident last year, whereas this year everyone is already writing us off, so it's a totally different feel.

“But within our four walls we believe in ourselves, and a win the week before always does help with that momentum.

“To win the Challenge Cup would be a dream come true. I’m 30 now and it’s still something I’ve not done. I was part of the winning Wigan team in 2013, but I was only a young lad then, so I didn’t get to play on the field.

“I was thinking about this last year, so hopefully I can actually do it this year.

“But we’ve got a lot in front of us before then, as we’ve got to get the training and performance right, but lifting the Challenge Cup would mean a lot for myself, but more for the team and the fans that deserve it.”

High flying Hull KR might enter this game as favourites, especially after they defeated the Wolves 12-31 in the Super League just a fortnight ago.

But Williams has firmly addressed any doubters:

“That’s the good thing about sport – it can always change very quickly. Everyone knows in finals and big games, that it doesn’t always go off form.

“It’ll be the team that gets it right on the day.

“We know how good Hull KR are; they are playing so well. They are the favourites this weekend so the pressure might be on them, but we’ve got pressure internally within our playing group to succeed.”

There has been a lot of noise around the ‘lucky’ Wembley West End of late, with most of the 2025 Wembley winners having had their fans situated in the West End of the stadium, especially in recent football cup finals.

This includes housing fans of the winning teams in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup Final, FA Trophy Final – and more recently all three EFL Play-Off Finals, as well as the National League Promotion Final last weekend.

And you believe in omens, and this pattern is set to continue, then it will be Warrington’s year with the Challenge Cup!

 

 

And Williams has a message for the Wire army:

“I’ve seen about the lucky end at Wembley, so you never know! Wire fans, please get your tickets and come down and support us. I know a lot of you went to Vegas and we didn’t perform, so we want to put it right for you.

“A win at Wembley this year would be brilliant for us all, wouldn’t it?”

Williams’ presence on Saturday is going to be huge, but will he be able to help guide and inspire Warrington to a Challenge Cup Final victory?

 

 

Warrington will face Hull KR in the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup Final on Saturday 7 June (K.O. 3pm) and will be shown LIVE on BBC One.

 

Expect the Unexpected in the Betfred Challenge Cup!

 

It's Finals Day at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 7 June. Be at Wembley for both the Men's and Women's Challenge Cup Finals, as well as the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final and RFL Champion Schools Year 7 Boys Final, and purchase your tickets here!