A Nathan Cleary Instagram post suggesting the World Club Challenge be played during Magic Round in Brisbane next year has been applauded by the ARL Commission – and Super League champions Wigan Warriors want it to happen.
The proposed clash between NRL champions Penrith and their English counterparts Wigan appeared set to be axed at the start of next year because both clubs will feature in games in Las Vegas in February.
Cleary was at Old Trafford with his girlfriend, England-based Matildas star Mary Fowler, last weekend to watch Wigan defeat Hull KR in the Super League grand final.
And the four-time premiership winner, whose club has never won a World Club Challenge, later took to social media to suggest the two clubs meet at Suncorp Stadium next May in what would essentially become a “ninth” game at Magic Round.
“I understand the logistics of getting on would be difficult, but I think it would be a great spectacle,” Cleary posted.
Nathan Cleary wants the World Club Challenge held at Magic Round – and Wigan want in.Credit: Rhett Wyman/SMH
Wigan chief executive Kris Radlinski told this masthead on Tuesday he had seen Cleary’s post, and said his club was willing to fly to Australia in the middle of the Super League season.
Radlinski said having a World Club Challenge in the middle of the year would mean both teams were fit, and there would be no excuse about Australian teams being underdone, which is often the case when games are played early in the year.
“We want the game to go ahead, since we’ve won the grand final, I’ve sent a note to the NRL and to Penrith to see what are the chances of it happening,” Radlinski said.
Nathan Cleary’s Instagram postCredit: Instagram
“I did see Nathan’s comments, and if there’s a way we can make this work, we’d love to play at Magic Round.
“I went to that weekend a few years ago, it was a wonderful festival.
“It will be a logistical challenge, but I’ve always said playing rugby league is a privilege, you only get to play for a short amount of time, and if you were to ask any player if they would want to be a part of that, I’m sure they’d all say ‘yes’.
“If you asked any retired player, ‘Would you turn down a game like that?’ they’d all tell you ‘not a chance’. This is why you play the game.
“It wouldn’t be ideal for us, but you have to make choices. We played Penrith at the start of this year, and that meant we had to postpone a Super League game, and later in the season we played three games in nine days. But we got it done. The bigger picture means you’re a world champion.
“There’s never an ideal time for this game. But we need to flesh out all options before we rule it out.
“It would also help get rid of any talk the game is a pre-season warm-up event – it would be great to play the game in the middle of the season when both teams are firing.”
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys said of the chances of Wigan and the Panthers meeting in Brisbane: “I like innovation and anything that comes out of left field. I’m very impressed Nathan Cleary has thought of this. If it can happen, it will happen. There’s a bit of logistical work to be done, and a bit of planning to do, but we’ll investigate it.”
Having a ninth game at Magic Round would mean introducing a Thursday night game. Penrith would likely have to use the game as a bye round. The 2025 schedule is yet to be locked in by the NRL.