Nathan Cleary cops bad news over World Club Challenge after bold proposal slapped down

The game had the full backing of Panthers maestro Nathan Cleary and Super League champions Wigan – but their support won't be enough to save the 2025 World Club Challenge from the scrapheap. NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has conceded the concept – pitting the best team in the NRL against the Super League's top side – is set to be officially shelved next year due to the strain on players amid a packed schedule of matches.

Four-time NRL premiers Penrith never showed any interest in playing the game, set down for mid-February, due to concerns over player fatigue on the back of a long domestic season, the current international program and a first-round assignment in Las Vegas against Cronulla. Wigan, who are also in action in Vegas, were keen to play despite the logistical challenge but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

Apart from two Covid-affected years – 2021 and 2022 – the WCC has been an annual fixture on the rugby league calendar since the turn of the century. Wigan has won the title five times while the Panthers are yet to win the crown in four attempts.

Tweaks to future WCC schedule

Abdo is confident the WCC will return in 2026 but hinted at tweaks to the scheduling, leaving open the possibility of the game being played mid-season rather than at the start of the year. "At this stage there aren't any plans to play the World Club Challenge next year," Abdo told Sky Sports Radio.

"We've looked at a number of different ways in which it might work (but) Penrith made their intentions clear earlier on in the piece. It’s not definitely dead and buried but it’s certainly going to be very challenging to play at the start of next year.

"From a player well-being perspective – and the way the season is with both competition winners featuring in Vegas – it’s probably not going to happen. Now we're turning our attention to working with Super League and what it looks like in 2026 and the possibilities of what we could do in '26 in relation to '25 as well. (And) we're looking innovatively at what other options are available potentially in later years."

Nathan Cleary's Magic Round idea shot down

Cleary backed a proposal to play the game as part of the NRL's Magic Round in May, but there appears little appetite for that idea. Yahoo Sport Australia floated the left-field option of inviting minor premier and grand final runners-up Melbourne to take Penrith's place in the WCC, drawing a strong response from fans.