LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The 2025 World Club Challenge is set to be benched, leaving the Penrith Panthers with the tough task of kicking off their season in Las Vegas and shortening their off-season even further.
The Panthers, four-time champions in a row, are no strangers to having the shortest pre-season in the NRL league.
According to a deal between the NRL and the Rugby League Players Association, players are guaranteed a minimum rest period after their last game of the season.
While international players can delay the start of their pre-season until the New Year, the Panthers and their grand final rivals will once again be the last teams to hit the ground running as a squad.
In 2025, things get even tougher as they lace up their boots to defend their title a week earlier than most of their rivals, starting their campaign in Las Vegas ahead of the competition.