Challenge Cup 2013: Biggest Names to Watch in Remaining Quarterfinal Fixtures

Without doing injustice to the two sides, Friday’s meeting between the Sheffield Eagles and London Broncos was assuredly the least glamorous of our four Challenge Cup quarterfinal matches. 

With the Broncos having won that matchup with some assurance, that now leaves the classier outfits left in the running to come to the fore, all of whom are of the Super League ilk. It must be of some interest; after all, even David Cameron, the UK Prime Minister, is getting in on the action:

Catalan Dragons, Hull, Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield are all in action this weekend, while Wigan and Widnes are set to clash on Monday evening.

With all that top-flight pedigree in play, it’s safe to say there’s more than a few superstars of the rugby league world primed to dazzle.

Sam Tomkins

At this stage of the season, it’s incredibly valuable to have a player at one’s disposal with 20 tries or more to his name. Even better, Shaun Wane is lucky enough to have two at the DW Stadium, one of whom is Sam Tomkins.

The mercurial poster boy of Super League rugby at the moment, Wigan received a major squad boost ahead of next week’s quarterfinal when they announced via their official club website that Tomkins had recovered from injury.

The 24-year-old full-back has managed to bag 23 tries in just 18 appearances for the club this Super League season, leading the division in tries scored.

At the moment, it’s difficult to imagine a more sought-after full-back in all of rugby league, and Tomkins alone has the ability to rip Widnes Vikings to shreds. It just so happens he probably won’t need to.

Danny Brough

With 98 goals to his name in the 2013 Super League campaign, nobody has kicked more points than Huddersfield’s Danny Brough.

The Giants’ scrum-half is yet to fail in kicking at least one penalty or conversion in a match this Super League season and has looked just as impressive in Challenge Cup competition.

The 30-year-old will line up against Warrington Wolves in a clash between two sides positioned second and third in the division table.

As a result, what’s bound to be an incredibly tight encounter is more than likely to be determined by the finest of margins, of which the kicking game will play a major role.

Should Brough keep the cool head he has so far in 2013, the Claret and Gold have all the chances of emerging victorious. If he doesn’t turn up to the game, their chances are immediately damaged.

Joel Monaghan

Putting to bed the demons of what happened during the closing days of his career as a Raiders player, which shan’t be discussed here (although a quick search along with the terms “RSPCA” may turn up results), Joel Monaghan has become a thriving success in England.

Over the last two years, the outside-back has been an essential part of Warrington’s success in that period, whether it be from the wing, in the centre or at full-back.

Just as Danny Brough’s performance could mean the difference between winning and losing for the Giants, The Wire’s chances hinge on whether Monaghan’s line breaks can muster the points necessary for a spot in the Challenge Cup semifinals.

Defensively, Huddersfield are among the strongest sides in the Super League, meaning space will be hard to come by at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday, but the 31-year-old Monaghan has the potential to find any there is to be had.

Pat Richards

As part of his Wigan swansong, Pat Richards will have plenty of enthusiasm to give his club the success it arguably deserves this season before moving back to Australia in 2014.

The back currently stands as the highest points scorer in this season’s Super League, combining an awesome tally of kicks with a very impressive injection of tries to mount a sum of over 200 points.

The former Man of Steel award winner won’t face his toughest test in Widnes, but he's sure to come up with an easy-on-the-eye performance nonetheless.