LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The World Club Challenge is making a comeback, with the Brisbane Broncos set to face Hull Kingston Rovers in late February. The NRL champions have confirmed their participation in this prestigious event.
The previous titleholders, Penrith, chose to forgo the match after securing the NRL championship in 2024. However, the Broncos have decided to bring this tradition back to life.
They will take on the Super League champions at Hull's MKM Stadium in northern England on February 20 (AEDT). The venue was shifted from Hull KR's home ground due to its limited capacity of 11,000.
This match is particularly significant for Hull KR, marking their first encounter with an Australian team in four decades. For the Broncos, it has been over 30 years since they last won the World Club Challenge.
This will be the third World Club Challenge in the last six years, coming after the Panthers' withdrawal last year, which was necessitated by their NRL game against the Sharks in Las Vegas. The fixtures in 2020 and 2021 were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite concerns from some NRL coaches about increasing player workloads, Brisbane's coach Michael Maguire believes that the challenge will serve as an excellent opportunity for team bonding.