Las Vegas scheduling set force cancellation of Broncos vs Hull KR World Club Challenge fixture
The future of rugby league’s prestigious World Club Challenge hangs in the balance as a complex international schedule threatens the showpiece fixture in a major blow to Michael Maguire’s quest for silverware.
There are fears rugby league’s prestigious World Club Challenge could be cancelled for a second consecutive year as further doubts arise over the future of the concept.
The Brisbane Broncos are desperate to contest the annual pre-season game between the Australian and English champions, but Hull Kingston Rovers’ Super League grand final win in England on Sunday has created a fresh scheduling angst.
Hull KR’s participation is now teetering on the brink given the Robins will be part of the Las Vegas 2026 extravaganza.
Hull KR are due to play Leeds Rhinos in the US on March 1, meaning the World Club Challenge would have to be played at least two weeks prior.
It would be too onerous for Hull to first travel to Australia to play the Broncos and then fly on to the US in a trip that would keep them away from home for a month.
That means the fixture would need to be held in England in mid-February, and would require the Broncos to leave Australia two weeks earlier to give themselves time to acclimatise to the northern hemisphere conditions.
That would raise player welfare concerns for the Broncos, who played right through until the October 1 grand final this year and have four players – Pat Carrigan, Gehamat Shibasaki, Kotoni Staggs and Reece Walsh — on the Kangaroo tour in the UK, which doesn’t end until November 9.
Playing the World Club Challenge after Vegas isn’t an option given the NRL season kicks off in early March.
And, adding to the cluster, NRL players are entitled to different annual leave privileges with senior players permitted to a 10-week off-season break through the NRL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.
This year’s World Club Challenge between Las Vegas-bound teams the Penrith Panthers and Wigan Warriors was cancelled after the NRL premiers argued they would not have enough of a pre-season before having to fly to the US for their season-opening fixture against Cronulla at Allegiant Stadium.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said he would require talks with Brisbane and Hull KR officials before deciding whether the World Club Challenge could be played.
Broncos coach Michael Maguire woke on Sunday morning to watch Hull KR defeat Wigan 24-6 in the Super League grand final at Old Trafford.
“We’re hoping to play the World Club Challenge but Hull KR won and they actually play in Vegas,” Maguire said.
“It will be interesting to see how it plays out now. We are waiting to see what may happen. It’s something we will talk about.
“It would be nice to have the World Club Challenge because it’s always great to travel away with your players and do something special when a trophy is available.”
Canterbury will play St George Illawarra in America while Newcastle confront North Queensland in the NRL matches while Hull KR play Leeds Rhinos in the third game.
Hull KR’s victory was a triumph for retiring former Roosters champion Jared-Waerea Hargreaves and Australian-born coach Willie Peters, a former Souths and Dragons halfback who will now join the Kangaroos touring party as an assistant coach.
“JWH, he produced his best performance in a Hull KR shirt tonight,” former Warrior and two-time Man of Steel Sam Tomkins told Sky Sports.
“When Willie Peters signed him, he signed him for the 11th of October. Not for the 14th of February, not for March, not June, not July. You sign JWH for tonight.”
Not having won a major trophy for 40 years, Hull KR has now won the grand final, Challenge Cup and Leagues Leaders’ Shield this season.
Asked about Peters, Maguire said: “It was great to see – Willie was actually with me at Souths. I’m sure it’s only time before he ends up back here at some stage.”
Hull KR lost 9-2 to Wigan in last year’s grand final.
Originally published as Las Vegas scheduling set force cancellation of Broncos vs Hull KR World Club Challenge fixture
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