Penrith Panthers star Nathan Cleary has offered his opinion on when the World Club Challenge should be played after discussions over the inter-hemisphere match have developed in recent weeks.
The back is currently in the UK visiting his girlfriend and Manchester City star Mary Fowler and was at Old Trafford on Saturday night watching Wigan Warriors defeat Hull Kingston Rovers to be crowned Super League champions.
It comes a week after the halfback led Penrith to their fourth consecutive NRL premiership, and in years past that would have meant his team would now face Wigan in the World Club Challenge.
Both clubs met in the 2024 edition of the match, with the Warriors claiming a 16-12 victory against Penrith, who failed to win the World Club Challenge despite having participated in the match four times.
The inter-hemisphere match usually takes place before the start of the NRL and Super League seasons in February.
Penrith star Nathan Cleary has offered his verdict on when the Club World Challenge should be played.
His Penrith team will face Wigan after being crowned Super League champions.
Penrith claimed their fourth consecutive premiership last week, but the Panthers have never won the World Club Challenge.
But with Wigan and Penrith set to kick off their 2025 campaigns in Las Vegas next March, the Panthers pulled out of the game.
Penrith chief executive Brian Fletcher expressed concern for the players’ welfare, telling News Corp: “There is no way in the world we can fit it into the calendar.” Our coaches and the football department said the players couldn’t take it.
“The amount of football they’ve played and then a World Club Challenge before going to Las Vegas, it’s too much.” “The welfare of the players is the biggest problem.”
The Penrith executive was criticized by fans online for his comments, with some branding his account “pathetic”.
But amid concerns that players may struggle to deal with the crush of early-season matches, Cleary agreed with an NRL commentator on when the World Club Challenge could be rescheduled.
Television commentator Andrew Voss stated that the game should be moved to be played during the NRL Magic Round, and it appears Cleary is a fan.
Cleary believes the game should be played during the NRL Magic Round in 2025.
Andrew Voss has also suggested that the match could be played during the Magic Round.
Posting a video of Wigan’s Grand Final celebrations on his Instagram Story on Monday, Cleary praised the Super League team before offering his thoughts on the World Club Challenge.
“Congratulations to Wigan on another win!” Cleary wrote. ‘They are a great team.
‘I would love to be able to play the World Club Challenge at Magic Round next year. “I understand the logistics of putting the game on would be difficult, but I think it would be a great show.”
The NRL Magic Round took place in May this year, while the Super League Magic Round took place in late August. In theory, both could be played at the same time, with Wigan and Penrith resting in the round.
Cleary’s comment comes after announcer Voss explained how the World Club Challenge could fit into the Magic round schedule.
“Could we go to the UK Super League and say, ‘Look, next year, Magic Round, Penrith has a bye. Let’s give Penrith a bye,'” Voss said in SEN Breakfast with Vossy and Brandy.
It comes after Panthers chief executive Brian Fletcher expressed fears over when the World Club Challenge should be played, citing player welfare.
“We will make the World Club Challenge the main game on Saturday night.”
Meanwhile, Wigan bosses have claimed they will “play anywhere” as long as the match can go ahead.
Wigan chief executive Kris Radlinski told Rugby League Live: “I’ve been reluctant to talk about it until we’re in the conversation, but I’ll do my best this week,” Radlinski told Rugby League Live.
‘I started conversations with Vegas and always had the World Club Challenge in mind. The date was set, but things have changed. Unfortunately, I have read it in the press like everyone else.
‘It would be very sad if it disappeared after what was built last year. I thought Penrith was incredible, the occasion was incredible, but reading that’s not going to happen, it’s not what we want.
“We’ll play the UK, we’ll play Australia, we’ll play anywhere if possible.”
During the off-season, Penrith will see a host of its key players join their respective national teams for this summer’s Pacific Championships. Dylan Edwards, Lindsay Smith, Isaah Yeo and Clive Churchill medalist Liam Martin were called up to Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos team.
Meanwhile, Paul Alamoti will join Tonga, while James Fisher-Harris, Casey McLean, Scott Sorensen and Trent Toeleau have been included in the New Zealand squad.