World Club Challenge: Dates, history, how to watch and key info

Penrith Panthers will be out to secure their first World Club Challenge success in four attempts when they take on Wigan Warriors next month.

The biggest game in club Rugby League sees the winners of the NRL and Super League grand finals go head-to-head, and 2024 sees the Panthers and Warriors clash.

Wigan have a proud history in the World Club Challenge, having won it four times, and they will be hoping home advantage will help them win their fifth.

It did not help the Panthers last year however as St Helens caused a big upset when winning 13-12 at Penrith Stadium.

The Panthers have finished runners up on three occasions and they will be desperate to add the World Club Challenge to a jam-packed trophy cabinet.

What	Wigan v Penrith Panthers
Where	DW Stadium, Wigan
When	06:00 (AEST) Sunday 25th February 2024
How to watch	Channel 9
Odds	Wigan 2.50, Penrith Panthers 1.53

World Club Challenge history

The first official World Club Challenge took place in 1976 between Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and St Helens.

The game was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Eastern Suburbs ran out comfortable 25-2 winners.

The next World Club Challenge took place in 1987 when Wigan entertained Manly at Central Park with the home side running out 8-2 winners.

Since then 18 teams have played in the World Club Challenge with the Sydney Roosters sitting top of the pile with five wins to their name.

Wigan have won it four times, while Leeds Rhinos, St Helens, Bradford Bulls and Melbourne Storm have all won the World Club Challenge on three occasions.

Out of the 28 World Club Challenges that have been played, Australian and English sides have won 14 each.

Australians dominate recent history

Australian sides have dominated the recent World Club Challenges, when winning seven of the last nine matches.

St Helens caused an upset when winning in Penrith in 2023, while Wigan won their fourth title in 2017 when beating Cronulla Sharks at the DW Stadium.

During that time Sydney Roosters won it three times, Melbourne Storm twice, South Sydney Rabbitohs and North Queensland Cowboys have won it once.

Warrior and Panthers results

Wigan Warriors and Penrith Panthers have clashed before in the World Club Challenge.

The clash took place at Anfield, the home of Liverpool FC, and it was the Warriors that came out on top when winning 21-4.

As well as the defeats to Wigan and St Helens, the Panthers other defeat in the World Club Challenge came against the Bradford Bulls in 2004.

Wigan’s four wins came against Manly, Brisbane Broncos, Penrith and Cronulla Sharks.

The Warriors have also finished runner-up on four occasions when losing to Brisbane Broncos, St George Illawarra Dragons and Sydney Roosters twice.