Penrith look to bring in some rare elusive silverware as they play Wigan deep in the heart of northern England at the DW Stadium where a rabid Cherry and White fanbase will be ready to claim the title of world’s best.
Best Bet
There is no question that Penrith are the better team but Wigan look an outstanding bet getting over a converted try.
This match has historically meant more to Super League teams. It is a trophy Wigan have won four times – including in 1991 over Penrith – while the Panthers have never won the World Club Challenge.
English teams are typically a month ahead in their preparation and we saw that last year when St Helens not only covered a monster line against the Panthers but won off the bat. That was the first World Club Challenge in three years but prior to COVID, Australian sides had won seven of eight – six of which were played in the UK.
The only English team to win over that run was Wigan.
The Cherry and Whites received a major boost this week when star half Harry Smith was cleared of a high tackle. Matt Peet’s men come off a very impressive 32-4 Super League Round 1 win over Castleford where Bevan French was outstanding, Liam Marshall scored a double and Liam Farrell dominated. Luke Thompson will miss through injury.
Penrith will be close to full strength with only Jarome Luai to miss.
Wigan are a seriously good team. The plus looks a strong play.
Same Game Multi
Bevan French is an elite tryscoring half with Wigan, scoring 77 tries in 91 games since joining the Warriors. The Panthers got calved up by No.6 Ezra Mam in the NRL Grand Final.
Nathan Cleary finished last season in fantastic tryscoring form with tries in five straight games, including the match winner in the decider.
Value Bet
This is remarkably Liam Farrell’s sixth World Club Challenge, a remarkable number and just one shy of Leeds legends Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Jamie Peacock. Farrell scored his only try in his previous five appearances back in 2015 but he has an outstanding strike rate with 138 tries in 352 matches. The rate has not been dropping either with 43 tries in 101 appearances across the last four seasons.
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