Penrith has confirmed a trip to England in February to contest the World Club Challenge against Wigan.
It will give the history-making Panthers an opportunity to claim the World Club Challenge for the first time after falling short after the 1991, 2003 and 2022 Grand Finals.
The game will be played at DW Stadium in Wigan on Saturday, February 24 at 8pm. In Australia, it’ll come in live at 7.00am on Sunday, February 25.
“We are excited to travel to England next February to test ourselves against the Super League Champions Wigan Warriors,” said Panthers CEO Matt Cameron.
“The World Club Challenge is such a vital piece of the rugby league calendar and we’re looking forward to contesting the match for a second straight year.
“Wigan are a proud rugby league club that have achieved sustained success for many years, which will give the Panthers an exciting challenge to open the 2024 campaign.”
The Panthers earned the right to contest the title after a 26-24 win over the Broncos in a memorable NRL Grand Final back in October.
Wigan defeated Catalans 10-2 in the Super League Grand Final.
Wigan Warriors Chief Executive Kris Radlinski said he was excited to be hosting the Panthers.
“We are thrilled to announce that the 2024 Betfred World Club Challenge against the Penrith Panthers will be held in Wigan,” he said.
“In recent weeks, substantial efforts have been invested to ensure the game takes place, fuelled by a keen interest from the Panthers to participate.
“This presents a fantastic opportunity for our club to host one of the NRL’s most formidable teams, providing a special treat for Wigan fans and rugby league enthusiasts alike. Anticipation is high and we promise to put on a show.”
The Panthers have opted not to participate in the NRL’s pre-season challenge to ensure they can make the trip to England.
At this stage, the club has no other pre-season fixtures scheduled.
Troy Dodds is the Weekender’s Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.
