# 1983–84 Challenge Cup

The 1983–84 Challenge Cup was the 83rd staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup. Known as the State Express Challenge Cup due to sponsorship by State Express 555, the final was contested by Widnes and Wigan at Wembley. Widnes won the match 19–6.

## Preliminary round

| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance |
| 1 | Fulham | 14–4 | Swinton | 1,680 |
| 2 | Carlisle | 12–20 | Widnes | 1,271 |

## First round

| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance |
| 1 | Kent Invicta | 20–42 | Castleford | 1,643 |
| 2 | Barrow | 12–14 | Workington Town | 5,132 |
| 3 | Blackpool Borough | 10–27 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 2,758 |
| 4 | Bradford Northern | 20–4 | Featherstone Rovers | 7,542 |
| 5 | Bramley | 10–10 | Wigan | 3,968 |
| Replay | Wigan | 34–4 | Bramley | 5,815 |
| 6 | Cardiff City | 6–34 | Hull | 2,735 |
| 7 | Doncaster | 11–8 | Batley | 634 |
| 8 | Halifax | 7–19 | Wakefield Trinity | 4,402 |
| 9 | Hunslet | 21–10 | Keighley | 1,466 |
| 10 | Oldham | 28–10 | Huyton | 2,552 |
| 11 | Rochdale Hornets | 8–17 | York | 756 |
| 12 | St. Helens | 16–10 | Leigh | 6,556 |
| 13 | Salford | 16–24 | Leeds | 4,299 |
| 14 | Warrington | 34–16 | Huddersfield | 3,064 |
| 15 | Whitehaven | 10–17 | Fulham | 1,683 |
| 16 | Widnes | 54–10 | Dewsbury | 4,005 |

## Second round

| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance |
| 1 | St. Helens | 24–14 | Hull | 5,815 |
| 2 | Castleford | 23–16 | Warrington | 8,029 |
| 3 | Fulham | 10–12 | Widnes | 3,591 |
| 4 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 40–7 | Doncaster | 6,959 |
| 5 | Hunslet | 7–17 | Bradford Northern | 6,956 |
| 6 | Wakefield Trinity | 12–20 | York | 3,222 |
| 7 | Wigan | 30–6 | Oldham | 9,515 |
| 8 | Workington Town | 3–12 | Leeds | 4,110 |

## Third round

| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance |
| 1 | Widnes | 21–10 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 8,017 |
| 2 | Leeds | 13–13 | Bradford Northern | 17,494 |
| Replay | Bradford Northern | 10–12 | Leeds | 18,424 |
| 3 | St. Helens | 7–16 | Wigan | 20,007 |
| 4 | York | 14–12 | Castleford | 8,529 |

## Semi finals

* 24 March 1984
| Wigan | 14 – 8 | York |
| Try: Scott, Whitfield Goal: Whitfield (3) | Report | Try: Harrison Goal: Steadman (2) |
* Elland Road, Leeds Attendance: 17,156 Referee: Ron Campbell (Widnes)
* 31 March 1984
| Widnes | 15 – 4 | Leeds |
| Try: Burke, Lydon Goal: Burke (3) Drop goal: S. O'Neill | Report | Try: Martin |
* Station Road, Swinton Attendance: 14,046

## Final

Widnes were appearing at Wembley for the seventh time in the last ten years, while Wigan were making their first appearance in the final since 1970. Widnes were the winners of a fairly one-sided encounter by a score of 19–6, with Joe Lydon winning the Lance Todd Trophy.
* 5 May 1984
| Widnes | 19 – 6 | Wigan |
| Try: Lydon (2), O'Loughlin Goal: Burke (3) Drop goal: S. O'Neill | Report | Try: Hemsley Goal: Whitfield |
* Wembley, London Attendance: 80,116 Referee: Billy Thompson (Huddersfield) Player of the Match: Joe Lydon
| FB | 1 | Mick Burke |
| RW | 2 | Stuart Wright |
| RC | 3 | Eric Hughes (c) |
| LC | 4 | Joe Lydon |
| LW | 5 | John Basnett |
| SO | 6 | Keiron O'Loughlin |
| SH | 7 | Andy Gregory |
| PR | 8 | Steve O'Neill |
| HK | 9 | Keith Elwell |
| PR | 10 | Kevin Tamati |
| SR | 11 | Les Gorley |
| SR | 12 | Mike O'Neill |
| LF | 13 | Mick Adams |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | David Hulme |
| IC | 15 | Fred Whitfield |
| Coach: ||
| Vince Karalius ||
| FB | 1 | Shaun Edwards |
| RW | 2 | Dennis Ramsdale |
| RC | 3 | David Stephenson |
| LC | 4 | Colin Whitfield |
| LW | 5 | Henderson Gill |
| SO | 6 | Mark Cannon |
| SH | 7 | Gary Stephens |
| PR | 8 | Kerry Hemsley |
| HK | 9 | Howie Tamati |
| PR | 10 | Brian Case |
| SR | 11 | Graeme West (c) |
| SR | 12 | Mick Scott |
| LF | 13 | John Pendlebury |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Wayne Elvin |
| IC | 15 | Brian Juliff |
| Coach: ||
| Alex Murphy ||