World Club Challenge to return in 2023 as Channel 4 confirm coverage
St Helens will face NRL champions Penrith Panthers in 2023 on Saturday, 18, February, in the returning World Club Challenge.
The match will take place at the home of the Panthers, the BlueBet Stadium.
Channel 4 will broadcast the game live with a 7:00am UK kick-off time. The fixture will be a part of a double-header for the free-to-air channel, with Hull KR taking on Wigan live at 1pm in the Super League.
This will mark the eighth time St Helens have played in the World Club Challenge, with two victories to their name. Penrith Panthers have previously appeared twice in the World Club Challenge.
It is the first World Club Challenge since 2020, when Sydney Roosters defeated St Helens 20-12 at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Due to St Helens travelling to Australia in early February, their Super League Round One clash against Huddersfield has been postponed.
It will be the first competitive game in charge for newly-appointed St Helens boss Paul Wellens. He said: “Both ourselves and Penrith have had unrivalled success in recent years and we are relishing the opportunity to go over to Australia and test ourselves against what is undoubtably a great team.
“It had been disappointing for us that we’ve been unable to have this contest in last couple of years, but it’s great news not just for both club’s, but for the game as a whole that the best teams in both competitions can once again compete in the World Club Challenge.
“We are obviously motivated by achieving further success and this gives us as a club an early opportunity to do exactly that in 2023. We aim to represent ourselves, the town of St Helens and the Super League competition in the best possible manner.”
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