Wigan take on Penrith in World Club Challenge

Pitting the Australian NRL champions against the British Super League winners in the World Club Challenge has been a staple of the sporting calendar since 1976. 

A game that always intrigues punters and international betting sites, this year, the all-conquering Penrith Panthers will be desperate to finally break their duck, as they travel to the UK, to take on the Wigan Warriors. 

Whilst Australian dominance in the national rugby league arena has long been evident, the differences between the NRL and the UK Super League have long been debated. 
 
The World Club Challenge is often seen as the ultimate benchmark for both competitions and two behemoths of the sport are set to clash in an epic in Lancashire. 
 
Wigan Warriors, who have won the World Club Challenge on 4 occasions, welcome arguably the best NRL side ever in the Penrith Panthers – who arrive in the UK fresh off the back of their third consecutive NRL title in 2023. 

Welcome to Wigan 

2023 was supposed to be a season of relative transition for Wigan Warriors, with coach Matt Peet looking to nurture his young squad in pursuit of the Saint Helens winning machine. 
 
However, following a shaky start to the campaign, Wigan belied plenty of pre-season prediction with Super League betting sites to reach the Grand Final against the Catalan Dragons. 
 
The Warriors stepped up when it mattered, lifting their first Super League Grand Final trophy since 2018 and securing their place in the World Club Challenge in the process. 

Perfect Penrith 

Notoriously, the NRL is one of the toughest sporting leagues to win in the world, with so many different sides having enjoyed success over the years. 
 
The Penrith Panthers have upset the form book however in recent times, winning the NRL title for three consecutive seasons between 2021 and 2023 and they remain the dominant force in Australian club rugby. 
 
Coach Ivan Cleary has his side playing some swashbuckling stuff and whilst they will have their eyes on the World Club Challenge prize here, they remain the 2024 NRL favourites with many online betting platforms. 
 
Who will be crowned World Champs? 

There is much more than domestic pride at stake here, with the winning side being bestowed the title of World Club Champions for 2024. 
 
Wigan have been on a steady upward curve over the past few seasons, with Matt Peet’s innovative coaching style essential in their progress and they will be firmly in the mix for the Super League title again in 2024. 
 
However, the Penrith Panthers remain irked by their home defeat to Saint Helens last season and they will arrive in the UK with extra purpose, as they attempt to clinch the title for the first time in the club’s history.  

The World Club Challenge always makes for pulsating viewing, with no love lost between Australian and British club sides and it should be no different in 2024. 
 
Hosts Wigan Warriors have been the dominant Super League force over the past 12 months, but Penrith Panthers arrive in town with plenty to prove and it should make for a compelling contest.