Isaah Yeo has expressed his regret over Penrith's decision to forego the World Club Challenge, as the Panthers officially informed the NRL that they would not be able to compete for the sole major trophy they have yet to win. By triumphing over Melbourne in last Sunday's grand final, the Panthers secured their fourth consecutive premiership and a match against the winner of the Super League decider between Wigan and Hull KR on Sunday (AEDT). However, Penrith's scheduled trip to Las Vegas for the first round of the 2025 season has complicated matters, as the traditional clash of premiers typically occurs in either England or Australia just before the NRL regular season commences.
The Panthers are also bracing for disruptions at the end of their preseason. At least 12 players will postpone their mandatory leave to participate in Samoa's tour of England or the Pacific Championships. Privately, the Panthers felt their team was underprepared for the 2024 World Club Challenge following last year's Pacific Championships, and that was without the added strain of a trip to Las Vegas.
Penrith anticipates their last group of players returning from leave in early January, leaving the club with barely six weeks of preseason before they fly out to face Cronulla at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The logistics would become even more challenging if Wigan were to win the Super League grand final as expected, as they are also scheduled to participate in rugby league's second Las Vegas event.
A senior Panthers official contacted the NRL on Wednesday morning to confirm the club's stance on not participating in the World Club Challenge. The club is open to collaborating with the NRL to find a solution but, at present, does not see a feasible window for the game.
Co-captain Yeo lamented the missed opportunity but acknowledged the club's predicament. "You'd love to make it happen, I just don't know how feasible it is, to be honest," he said at Wednesday's official fan celebration for the Panthers' grand final victory. "Obviously, as a team, we'd love to because it's the only thing missing from our record.
You'd love another chance to rectify that. It's just so difficult with Vegas. If we weren't going to Vegas, I think we'd have a shot, but that just makes it harder." This means the World Club Challenge will likely evade the Panthers for another year, despite their documented dominance in the NRL since 2020.
The fixture was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic following the 2021 grand final, and in the two years since, St Helens and Wigan each narrowly defeated Penrith. Previous Panthers teams also lost the fixture after their 1991 and 2003 premiership victories.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has previously voiced his enthusiasm for participating in the fixture, but the club is prioritizing player welfare and the pursuit of a fifth consecutive NRL premiership. "They're not machines, they can't keep playing, and we've got to go to Vegas," said Panthers group chief executive Bryan Fletcher. "The time frame and for the players' health, we just cannot do that (the World Club Challenge)."
