A date has reportedly been set for the World Club Cup between Wigan Warriors and Penrith Panthers as the best in Super League and best of the NRL lockouts.
It was revealed earlier this week that the match will take place in the UK, with Penrith boycotting the now annual NRL Pre-Season Challenge.
However, they will compete at the same time as this challenge but in England.
It has been reported that the World Club Challenge will take place on Saturday, February 24, alongside the second round of the Pre-Season Challenge.
This makes a lot of sense and gives the NRL champions two weeks to prepare for the start of the season, where they will apparently face the Melbourne Storm.
However, Wigan are likely to be in the middle of Super League, with the first round likely to take place earlier in February, as in recent years.
It remains to be seen how this will affect their preparations and tournament campaign.
Last year, St Helens played a warm-up match against the St George Illawarra Dragons ahead of the World Club Challenge alongside the first round of the Super League.
This also creates a problem for Penrith, who may struggle to find their own warm-up game last week if Super League gets going.
Their opponents will play two matches in February, as confirmed by the announcement of the pre-season Test matches. The NRL’s pre-season challenge begins on February 15 and features 16 tense and exciting clashes over two weekends of entertaining football, setting the stage for the Telstra Premiership.
Defending champions Manly will be on hand to defend their title as they release new halves of Daly Cherry-Evans and Luke Brooks, while a host of other clubs are set to make big-name signings in their first serious match of 2024.
The pre-season challenge provides the perfect opportunity to refine combinations and get some serious game time before the Telstra Premiership season kicks off in Las Vegas.
The pre-season challenge format and points system will remain consistent with 2023, meaning there will be $100,000 in prize money up for grabs, split equally between clubs and players.
Teams will again earn bonus points for tries, line breaks and offloads, while playing teams will be limited to 28 players per week.
Kicking off with the Bulldogs and Storm at Belmore Sports Ground on Thursday February 15, the opening round of the Pre-Season Challenge also includes exciting clashes between the Cowboys and Broncos in Mackay with the Roosters Drum and Sea Eagles in Gosford .
The annual All Stars Show will take place at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on Friday February 16, showcasing the best Māori and Indigenous talent the game has to offer.
The following day, the Dragon and the Rabbit continued their age-old rivalry in the Charity Shield at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Round two of the Pre-Season Challenge featured a doubleheader at PointsBet Stadium with old foes the Rabbitohs and Roosters going head to head before the Sharks knocked out the Bulldogs.
Defending champions Manly will host the Broncos at 4 Pines Park while matches will also take place in Mudgee, Queanbeyan and Ipswich as fans from New South Wales and Queensland get their first chance to see the Their club’s new contract plays as an increased anticipation to
Thursday, February 15, 7pm – Bulldogs v Storm at Belmore Sports Ground Saturday, February 17, 1.
45pm – Knights v Sharks at Industree Group Stadium 3pm 45pm – Roosters v Sea