World Club Challenge: Everything you need to know as Wigan Warriors face NRL champions Penrith Panthers | Rugby League News

Forward of the World Membership Problem 2024 between Wigan Warriors and Penrith Panthers, we take a better have a look at a number of the largest questions in regards to the monumental conflict…

What’s the World Membership Problem? Key details

The World Membership Problem sees the champions of the Tremendous League tackle the NRL victors to be topped champions of world rugby league.

Consider it because the Champions League of rugby league, one of the best of 1 nation’s competitors dealing with off in opposition to one of the best of one other. It’s Man Metropolis vs Inter Milan. It’s Liverpool vs Actual Madrid. It’s Bayern Munich vs Paris Saint-Germain.

Cricket is extra your factor? Consider it as a one-off match between the winners of the Vitality Blast and the Huge Bash.

Eighty minutes to find out who’s on high of the world.

The NRL has 14 World Membership Problem wins to their title and the Tremendous League matches them with 14 of their very own, which means the victor on this yr’s conflict will put their competitors on high.

The Sydney Roosters are essentially the most profitable membership with wins in 1976, 2003, 2014, 2019, and 2020, Wigan Warriors second with wins in 1987, 1991, 1994, and 2017.

If the Wigan Warriors can beat the Penrith Panthers on February 24, they’ll match the Roosters for wins and put Tremendous League on high.

Why is the World Membership Problem vital?

To grasp why the World Membership Problem is vital, you’ll want to put each competitions in context. So, let’s begin with the NRL.

To play within the NRL is to play within the Premier League of Australia; rugby league is their principal sport and for those who play in it you’re a celebrity.

Nathan Cleary, the star man on the Panthers, was voted GQ Australia Sportsperson of the Yr in 2023. You might be within the limelight and you must carry out.

For Tremendous League, the World Membership Problem presents an enormous alternative to indicate that the European equal can beat one of the best the Australian competitors has to supply.

It’s usually presumed the NRL is a superior normal to Tremendous League – the World Membership Problem is the possibility to show that perception unsuitable, as golf equipment have finished over and over.

Wigan vs Penrith: Key gamers and stats

Wigan have contested the World Membership Problem eight instances, profitable 4 of them in 1987, 1991, 1994, and 2017.

Penrith have by no means received the World Membership Problem of their three makes an attempt, dropping to Wigan Warriors in 1991, Bradford Bulls in 2004, and St Helens in 2023.

One of many key battles to observe shall be between world-renowned half-back Cleary up in opposition to Wigan’s Harry Smith.

Smith had a breakout 2023, however his kicking recreation and management in opposition to the Panthers pack goes to be pivotal if the Warriors need to get themselves on high within the match.

Then now we have the star males: Jai Subject and Dylan Edwards. Each full-backs are identified for his or her unbelievable tempo and skill to make one thing out of nothing. There may be each likelihood the match might be determined by a second of brilliance from one of many males on the again.

We have met earlier than: 1991 – Wigan 21-4 Penrith

Wigan and Penrith final confronted off within the World Membership Problem in 1991. The sport was performed on a Wednesday night time, however this time at Anfield, as Wigan took the sport to a stadium well-known for giant matches.

Penrith had been with out two star gamers – Brad Fittler and Mark Geyer – and Wigan dominated the sport. Penalties had been the order of the day early on, Frano Botica kicking 4 of them to edge Wigan into an 8-0 lead.

Penrith replied with a strive via Darren Willis, however that was to be their final scoring motion. Wigan centre Sam Panapa acquired over earlier than half-time earlier than David Myers scored late on to safe the win. A late drop objective from Joe Lydon put the icing on the cake as Wigan took dwelling a 21-4 victory.

Is the World Membership Problem vital to Australian golf equipment?

It’s unattainable to ask each NRL membership their opinion on this however for those who discuss to go coach of the Penrith Panthers Ivan Cleary, the reply may be very a lot sure.

“We completely gave it our greatest, it was the primary recreation of the yr and St Helens had been too good for us that night time,” Cleary stated reflecting on their 2023 loss to St Helens.

“It could be good to get one other shot at it.

He added: “I do not suppose it took us unexpectedly, we completely revered what they had been going to deliver. They’re a profitable footy staff and that is sort of how they play.

“They undoubtedly deserved to win – I assumed they performed the situations higher and took their possibilities as effectively.

“I used to be happy with the best way the boys hung in there within the second half…we struggled to create any momentum. We caught at it, however I do not suppose you may take something away from St Helens.

“They managed the ruck very effectively and acquired off the road very laborious…that lead that they constructed was in all probability the distinction.”

Now Penrith have one other likelihood at world glory in opposition to St Helens’ largest rivals Wigan. Consider it like Liverpool beating Actual Madrid after which Man United dealing with Actual Madrid for the title the yr after. It’s huge and it’ll make waves whoever wins.

Why did the 2023 World Membership Problem matter a lot?

St Helens beat all the percentages once they went to Australia and defeated Penrith with a golden level drop objective, Lewis Dodd wrote himself into rugby league folklore and Paul Wellens acquired off to the proper begin as a head coach for his hometown membership.

To say the Saints had been underdogs is an understatement, the overall supervisor of Canterbury Bulldogs Phil Gould tweeting Penrith would be capable to declare at half-time.

It was the primary win for a British aspect in Australia since Wigan Warriors’ win over Brisbane Broncos in 1994, and Wellens’ aspect secured a “monumental victory” for the Tremendous League competitors, the catalyst for the Panthers travelling over to England for the match this yr.

“I bear in mind as a child watching the Wigan staff come over right here and beat that nice Brisbane aspect in ’94 and, given the truth that a victory like that has by no means occurred since, I believe it’s clearly a seismic lead to British rugby league,” stated Wellens.

“It’s a monumental victory for us as a membership. It’s a monumental victory for the British recreation and I’m simply honoured and proud to be a part of such an ideal membership and a part of such an ideal staff.

“What we needed to do is change opinions and I really feel now we have finished that tonight.

“I hope that this efficiency generally is a catalyst for change and a catalyst for enchancment on our aspect of the world.”

Penrith journey over, desirous to lastly get the trophy in opposition to the rivals of the staff that shocked them.

Get Sky Sports activities on WhatsApp!

Now you can begin receiving messages and alerts for the most recent breaking sports activities information, evaluation, in-depth options, and movies from our devoted WhatsApp channel!

Discover out extra right here…

Watch each match of the 2024 Tremendous League season, together with Magic Weekend, the play-offs, and males’s, ladies’s and wheelchair Grand Finals, plus the World Membership Problem, stay on Sky Sports activities. Additionally stream with NOW.