Wigan won the Challenge Cup at a thrilling Wembley

Wigan Warriors beat Warrington Wolves 18-8 to secure a record 21st Challenge Cup on Saturday as rugby league paid tribute to the late Rob Burrow.

Former Leeds Rhinos star Burrow, 41, died last week after a battle with motor neurone disease, sparking an outpouring of emotion across the UK.

Burrow’s number 7 shirt was projected on giant screens inside and outside Wembley and, in another tribute, the men’s final kicked off at 3.07pm.

As the action began, Super League man of steel Bevan French set up Zach Eckersley for Wigan’s first try and stretched for the second to ensure his side also became the first team since 2007 to own all the four major honors of the game simultaneously. .

Warrington rallied and Matt Dufty’s late try gave them a glimmer of hope but they were second and rarely looked likely to win the trophy for head coach Sam Burgess in his first season in charge.

Burrow’s name and image adorned a large banner near Wembley and fans laid scarves and flowers at a rugby league statue outside the stadium in tribute to the former Leeds number seven, who won two Challenge Cup finals.

The crowd of nearly 65,000 stood for a minute’s silence before kick-off and again seven minutes into the match in honor of Burrow’s shirt.

Wigan scored the opening try in the 19th minute when French sent the ball into the path of Eckersley, who shrugged off Matty Ashton to touch down.

Ashton’s sock-on three minutes later from Harry Smith’s high ball kept Warrington on their backs and led to Wigan’s second try, Abbas Miski and Jai Field stretching the opposition defense before French touched down following a the machete.

Liam Farrell scored Wigan’s fifth final and Smith’s third conversion gave Matt Peet’s men an 18-2 lead.

Warrington gave themselves a glimmer of hope with 15 minutes remaining when Dufty cut in from the left, Josh Thewlis’ conversion reducing the arrears to 10.

But Wigan saw out the final moments with minimum fuss to lift the trophy for the second time in three years and add to the Grand Final, League Leaders’ Shield and World Club Challenge they already hold. (AFP)