Nathan Cleary wants World Club Challenge in Magic Round
Nathan Cleary believes the World Club Challenge should be moved to a new date, with the Panthers playmaker saying he would like the game to be played in next year’s Magic Round.
“Would love to be able to play the WCC at Magic Round next year,” Cleary posted on Monday night.
“I understand the logistics of getting the game on would be difficult, but I think it would be a great spectacle.”
The comment comes with uncertainty surrounding next year’s World Club Challenge, which pits the NRL premiers against the Super League champions.
Usually, the match is played in the NRL’s pre-season. However, with both the Penrith Panthers and Wigan Warriors travelling to Las Vegas for the opening round of their respective competitions in March, the sides have expressed hesitation about the additional travel.
Wigan captain Liam Farrell affirmed after his side’s win over Hull KR on the weekend that if there is a way to make the match happen, they are interested.
“If there was a way of doing it, we’d definitely be up for it,” he said.
“We have got a very rich history in it and if both teams can get it on, then it’d be great to have another matchup against them again because it was a very special game against them last time.
“I think [Penrith are] just looking at their calendar year and how many games they’ve got to play and looking after player welfare.
“I think that’s the most important thing.
“They’ve got players playing internationals at the end of the year and turning around trying to play in a World Club Challenge as well as a game in Las Vegas will be a bit too much I think.”
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary suggested that one way to make the fixture happen would be to have it occur in the United States.
“Both sides are playing (in Las Vegas), but playing in their own competition,” he said.
“It’d be pretty cool if we could have lined that one up.”
The idea likely comes too late for the 2025 season, with the Panthers already set to play the Cronulla Sharks in Las Vegas on March 1.
Seeking their fifth straight title in the NRL, Penrith are paying $4.50 in the early outright odds across most rugby league bookmakers.
