The competition for clubs outside Super League began as the Buddies National League Cup in 2002. It became the Arriva Trains Cup the following year before changing to the Northern Rail Cup in 2005.

The record crowd for the competition is 9,400 at the 2005 final between Castleford Tigers and Hull Kingston Rovers at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool, on 17 July. The biggest outside the final is 7,333 for the 2005 Group Four match between Castleford Tigers and Featherstone Rovers on Good Friday 25 March 2005

Most tries
5 Paul Salmon (Barrow Raiders) v Workington Town 2002
5 Neil Turley (Leigh Centurions) v Swinton 2003
5 Neil Turley (Leigh Centurions) at Chorley Lynx 2004
5 Jon Steel (Hull K.R.) at London Skolars 2005
5 Byron Ford (Hull K.R.) v York City Knights 2006

Most goals
14 Steve Blakeley (Salford City Reds) v Gateshead Thunder 2003
14 Damien Couturier (Hull K.R.) v Halifax 2006

Most points
42 (5t, 11g) Neil Turley (Leigh Centurions) at Chorley Lynx 2004

Highest score
Salford City Reds 100 v Gateshead Thunder 12 - 2003 (Also widest margin)

Highest away score
Gateshead Thunder 8 v Salford City Reds 90 - 2003 (Also widest margin)

Finals
2002 Huddersfield Giants 32 Hull K.R. 6
2003 Salford City Reds 36 Leigh Centurions 19
2004 Leigh Centurions 42 Hull Kingston Rovers 14
2005 Hull K.R. 18 Castleford Tigers 16
2006 Leigh Centurions 22 Hull K.R. 18
2007 Widnes Vikings 54 Whitehaven 6
2008 Salford City Reds 60 Doncaster 0
2009 Widnes 34 Barrow 18