Hull KR head coach Willie Peters believes the World Club Challenge deserves an annual spot on the rugby league calendar.
The Robins picked up the world title on Thursday night as they beat Brisbane Broncos 30-24 in what was a thrilling encounter at the MKM Stadium. Both sides scored five tries but ultimately, Rovers’ precise goal kicking proved to be the difference on the night.
It was the first World Club Challenge played since 2024 when Wigan Warriors beat Penrith Panthers, and it was just the third showpiece event since 2020, with the 2021 and 2022 showpiece events failing to go ahead due to the pandemic.
However, fresh from seeing his side win the World Club Challenge for the very first time, Peters outlined his desire to see the contest cemented as a yearly fixture.
“I’m all for it,” Peters said. “It’s obviously are we going there or are they coming here and how will it work with the World Cup in Australia so are we having players going over there, then coming back and then going over again? It’s just finding what works for everyone.
“But, I’m sure the Australian teams will be saying the same thing as I am, I’m all for it. Tonight’s game, if anyone thought both sides weren’t playing to win, it was there to be seen.
“Obviously we got off to a great start but the Broncos, if they weren’t playing to win or they didn’t have the character and fight they’ve got, they could have easily thought it’s not worth anything but they knew. They wanted to win that trophy.
“When you have two teams that agree to play because they want to win then do it. It’s got to work for both.”
Asked what the result, and Super League’s third World Club Challenge win in a row, said about the Northern Hemisphere competition, the Hull KR boss said: “This is a one off game and they’re playing in our conditions.
“We need to go and do that again and play them over there and do it to be able to go, ‘we’ve come a long way’. St Helens went over there and won.
“I’m not getting carried away in terms of making any massive statements in terms of what we do and our competition. I know the product we’ve got here, it’s a really good product and the people that watch it say the game’s are exciting.
“There’s more attack here, the Broncos are the best over there in terms of attack. I guarantee next week there’s going to be fans there that enjoy watching Super League providing both teams play the way they can, because there’s two really good teams going at it. We have a responsibility again to put the game over in the right way.”
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Wiganexpat
February 20, 2026 at 9:47 pm
This Challenge comp gets very little respect in Aus. It is often referred too as a “Trial” game although I do believe that the clubs playing in it do treat it seriously. This comp needs more promotion and free to air coverage in OZ. I think this game would be a prime opportunity to get set up as one of the NRL’s international games. I know that HKR rejected that this year but assuming there is money in it, I seriously believe that is the way to go.