Controversial NRL journalist tips Wigan Warriors to lose comfortably against Penrith

Penrith Panthers and Wigan Warriors have named their 21-man squads for Saturday’s Betfred World Club Challenge at Wigan’s sold-out DW Stadium (KO 8pm).

The Warriors are aiming to win the world title for a fifth time, while the Panthers have suffered World Club Challenge defeat on three previous occasions – including at the hands of opponents Wigan at Anfield in 1991 – and then on their home territory to St Helens in 2023. They will be seeking their first title on Saturday night.

Super League champions Wigan are looking to equal Sydney Roosters’ record of five World Club Challenge victories, but they will be without England forward Luke Thompson who suffered a head knock during last Saturday’s opening round win at Castleford Tigers. Head coach Matt Peet replaces Thompson in the squad with Tiaki Chan.

Australian champions Penrith include Jack Cole in place of regular stand-off Jarome Luai, who hasn’t yet recovered from a shoulder injury sustained in last year’s NRL Grand Final against Brisbane Broncos, as they aim to avenge last year’s World Club Challenge disappointment.

English and Australian clubs are currently tied at 14 WCC victories apiece.

Wigan Warriors:

Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Liam Byrne, Willie Isa, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis, Mike Cooper, Patrick Mago, Kruise Leeming, Tyler Dupree, Harvie Hill, Ryan Hampshire, Tiaki Chan, Zach Eckersley, Tom Forber.

Penrith Panthers:

Dylan Edwards, Sunia Turuva, Izack Tago, Taylan May, Brian To’o, Jack Cole, Nathan Cleary, Moses Leota, Mitchell Kenny, James Fisher-Harris, Luke Garner, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo, Tyrone Peachey, Lindsay Smith, Liam Henry, Matthew Eisenhuth, Brad Schneider, Mavrik Geyer, Daine Laurie, Soni Luke.

Wigan Warriors tipped to lose comfortably

Despite naming this strong squad, the Warriors have been tipped to lose quite comfortably by notorious NRL journalist the Mole of Wide World of Sports.

Speaking on X, he responded to a League Scene poll and said that the Warriors would lose by 13 points which is quite a sizeable margin for a final between the world’s two best teams.

League Scene’s poll saw that nearly 75% of people believe Penrith will end Saturday as World Club Champions.