Why Melbourne should take Penrith's spot in the World Club Challenge after NRL premiers' snub
The Panthers don't appear to have any appetite to play the traditional match.
OPINION
If Penrith continues its outright refusal to play in the World Club Challenge, there is one simple solution – strip the NRL premiers of the honour and let Melbourne take their place. The Panthers disrespected the concept by boycotting the game before their English opposition was even decided.
Did Penrith think to check with Super League grand finalists - Wigan and Hull KR – before pulling the plug? Put in a phone call to get their take? You know, just out of courtesy and respect? Apparently not. At Penrith, WCC translates to Won't Compete Clause.
Wigan won the Super League decider but was blindsided by the Panthers' decision to lay down their arms. Warriors CEO Kris Radlinksi labelled it "a real shock and surprise" while promising to "do whatever it takes" to make sure the match goes ahead. But it appears he is pushing excrement uphill. There has been no sign of budging at Penrith, with CEO Brian Fletcher adamant the game can't be played anywhere at any time.
That's despite superstar halfback Nathan Cleary pushing for the fixture to be slotted into the NRL's Magic Round – a proposal ARLC chairman Peter V'landys is enthusiastically behind. The Panthers do have a genuine gripe about player welfare, pointing to a packed match schedule which includes the season opener in Las Vegas.
Playing the WCC in its traditional mid-February time slot presents problems and there would have to be some give and take on both sides. But those logistical challenges don't give Penrith the unilateral right to shut the whole show down with zero consultation or little consideration for all parties.
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Minor premiers Melbourne could play WCC instead of Penrith
They don't run the game. And that's where Melbourne comes into the picture. The Storm finished the regular season as minor premiers – four points ahead of the Panthers – after winning 19 of 24 games.
If they were in the football (soccer) world, they would have been crowned champions with two games to spare. Craig Bellamy's team went on to play in the grand final, going down 14-6 to the greatest team we've seen in more than half a century.
If Penrith don't want to play ball, Melbourne should be put forward as Australia's WCC representative. The Storm would relish the challenge of taking on Super League's best, regardless of the logistics.
Some fans will argue it cheapens the concept if the NRL grand finalists aren’t represented. But surely cancelling the match outright is a much worse look?
