‘It sells itself’: World Club Challenge return looks likely with Panthers and Saints keen to lock horns

A return of the World Club Challenge seems on the cards for 2023 after a three-year absence, with St Helens, the Super League champions, and Penrith Panthers, the newly crowned NRL premiers, up for the clash.

Discussions have been ongoing regarding location, logistics and timing, given the differing start times of the respective seasons and the number of players from both teams who will be involved in the Rugby League World Cup, but confidence is high that the two clubs, and their leagues, can come together to make the game work for all parties.

From the Panthers, coach Ivan Cleary is well on board with the concept, which could see Penrith claim a world title to go with their Premierships at NRL, reserve grade, under-20s and under 18s level.

“You sit back and watch it in years gone by, and it’s something that everyone wants to be part of,” said Cleary. “I’ll be putting my hand up for it for sure. Let’s go.”

The feeling is mutual in England, where St Helens recently won their fourth consecutive Super League.

“It’s clear that both clubs would love the opportunity to play,” said Mike Rush, CEO of St Helens.

“The difficulty is always going to be the timing because the two competitions start at different times and, obviously, that brings in the logistics of travel and everything else.

“For rugby league in general, we need a World Club Challenge every year in order to raise the profile internationally.

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“With the limited number of international games that we have – granted this year there’s a World Cup – it needs to be a permanent fixture in the calendar between the NRL and Super League.

“The Panthers have gone back to back and we’re lucky enough that we’ve had success over the last four seasons. It would be a great game.”

The NRL is slated to start a week earlier than normal, with March 2 pencilled In as a prospective date for round one.

That would put the two weekends of trial games in mid-February, and if Penrith were exempted from the trials – creating a round 16 NRL competitors in the trials – and also given the bye, that would allow them time to travel to the Northern Hemisphere and play on the weekend of February 24.

Saints could host the fixture at the Totally Wicked Stadium in the town, or, if demand was deemed sufficient, move the game to Anfield. Liverpool FC are away from home in consecutive weekends, leaving their stadium available from February 12 to March 5.

(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Should the game be held on this side of the world, the logistics would be more complex. The 2023 Super League is set to start on February 16, meaning that St Helens would be in round three or four when they would travel to Australia, fixtures that would be more difficult to make up given the lack of bye rounds and higher number of fixtures in the British rugby league calendar.

The good relations between St Helens and the Panthers could be key to getting the game on. They have had a partnership for years in junior grades

“Up until Covid, we would generally go out and play the Panthers every two years at under-18s level, and we’ve had a phenomenal relationship with the Panthers,” said Rush.

“Jim Jones and Matt Cameron have been great to our club in helping us with games, and every time we drop them an email to organise a game, they’re straight back.

“We have experience of playing Nathan Cleary – I think we played him and a number of Panthers on a tour the Danny Richardson and Morgan Knowles went on.

“There’s a history there and it would be great if we could get it off the ground, but it comes back to funding, commerciality, travel and timing.”

St Helens’ 2013 tour to Penrith. A young Nathan Cleary is kneelig on the far right. 

One man who would love to see the concept return is James Graham. The England legend was part of the St Helens team that beat Brisbane in 2007 and finished his career in 2020, winning the second of Saints’ four consecutive titles.

For Graham, the chance for the two ongoing rugby league dynasties to face off was a no-brainer for fans and administrators.

“I was fortunate to be a part of one in 2007 and it was great experience for everyone involved,” he said.

“If you look at the possibilities for St Helens, who have won four in a row, going up against the Penrith Panthers on two in a row, it sells itself.

“It would be well received by all rugby league fans and be a great way to kick off the NRL season 2023.

“St Helens have been a consistent side for most of the Super League era back in England, it’s arguably the best Saints team we’ve ever seen, which is really saying something.

“For them to take on the Panthers would be a momentous task giving the quality of Penrith, who are a remarkable rugby league team, but I’d be really looking forward to seeing them come up against each other.”