The 2024 World Club Challenge is almost here, and will be contested by two clubs with proud histories of junior development and community integration.
Hosts Wigan are the most successful club in global rugby league history with a whopping 23 league titles, 20 Challenge Cups and four World Club Challenge victories to their name, while Penrith's third NRL Grand Final victory in a row last October is an unprecedented feat in the modern era.
The core of this Panthers side, that have reached four Grand Finals in four seasons and won each of the last three, is made up of players who made their way through the grades at Penrith, through the massive junior base in Western Sydney and up to Ivan Cleary's first-team NRL squad.
That's also the case for plenty of Wigan players and coaches alike coming into the World Club Challenge, with seven of the Warriors' Super League Grand Final-winning 17-man squad coming through the academy.
The Sporting News recently caught up with a few of them in the lead-up to this historic match at the DW Stadium.
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Moments man Marshall hoping to play his part against Panthers
If there's a player Wigan fans can look to for a moment of magic this weekend, Liam Marshall could well be the man. Scorer of the dramatic late winner against Huddersfield in the 2022 Challenge Cup Final, Marshall also crossed for the only try of last year's Grand Final, which the Warriors won 10-2 over Catalans Dragons.
So what goes into being synonymous with those big moments?
"There's a fair bit of luck in there for sure!" says Marshall.
"Being a winger, I get more chances to score, and I've been fortunate enough to get on the end of two really big moments in the last few years."
"They were very nice personal memories for me, but it's all about the team really and we've won three trophies in two years off the back of that hard work. Being in the right place at the right time wouldn't be possible without the blokes I've got setting me up like Faz (Liam Farrell), Harry (Smith), and Jake Wardle so they're the ones to thank really."
Now 27, Marshall has been scoring tries for fun ever since breaking into first-grade back in 2017, but even after 122 tries in 151 games for Wigan, the winger knows he's got one hell of a task on his hands in marking Brian To'o in the World Club Challenge.
"It's obviously a big occasion and a massive game for us as both a club and a town, you always want to be playing in games like these and challenging yourself against the best in the world," he added.
"Penrith are an absolutely champion team and we know they'll want to win a World Club Challenge to cement themselves as one of the best to ever do it, so it's going to be really really tough. With our home support behind us at the DW though, we can beat anyone and we proved as much last year, so now I just can't wait for kick-off and to rip in."
Legend-turned-coach O'Loughlin taking stead ahead of historic match
After over 450 appearances as a player for Wigan before retiring in 2020, assistant coach Sean O'Loughlin is a bastion of knowledge and experience for younger players looking to make an impression this season. A local junior of the Wigan St. Patrick's club, the former Warriors captain played in four World Club Challenge matches and is expecting his first as a coach to be the toughest yet.
"Having played in this game before there's definitely the hunger from me personally for us to go on and win it," he said, speaking with The Sporting News. "Everyone's aware of the size of the task at hand, and I always feel that these games at the start of the season have a really special feeling about them, even though it’s very different from a grand final."
On welcoming Wigan's new signings, O'Loughlin said: "We’ve recruited very well in the middle forward areas, and from my position as a coach and former player in that role, I try to help and guide them as much as possible."
"The new boys have come in because the club’s seen something in them, so they’re here to stand out just as much as they are to fit in. They obviously have to learn our systems and what we expect, but also bring something different to help improve the team."
Several of those signings will certainly be looking to lay down a marker in the upcoming World Club Challenge, but O'Loughlin knows that if the side stick to the game plan laid down by himself and head coach Matt Peet, the Warriors will be well within a chance of toppling the NRL premiers.
"The club’s done such a good job of promoting the World Club Challenge and there’s a clear appetite for these kinds of games from everyone involved with the club, and you can see that with the stadium being sold out. It should be a really special night."
When is the 2024 World Club Challenge?
Wigan will welcome Penrith to their home ground on Saturday, February 24th, with kick-off scheduled for 8:00pm local time (7am AEDT on Sunday, February 25th).
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The visitors have lost the fixture all three times they have appeared in it to date, falling to Wigan back in 1991 along with Bradford and Saints.
The Warriors, on the other hand, have claimed the trophy on four occasions and will be attempting to win a record-equalling fifth WCC title against the side from Down Under.
How to watch Wigan vs. Penrith
The 2024 World Club Challenge will be broadcast by Fox League and 9Gem in Australia.
The match will also be available to be streamed on Kayo.
Meanwhile, in the UK, the WCC will be shown by regular rugby league broadcaster Sky Sports.
| Country | Time and date | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 7:00am AEDT on Sunday, February 25 | Fox League / 9Gem |
| United Kingdom | 8:00pm GMT on Saturday, February 24 | Sky Sports |
Where is the 2024 World Club Challenge?
The Penrith Panthers will be headed to the north of England where they will take on the Wigan Warriors.
The game will be held at a sold-out DW Stadium in Wigan.
