It has been widely reported that the NRL are considering buying the Betfred Super League even after their Champions Penrith Panthers were beaten by the Super League Champions Wigan Warriors in the World Club Challenge.
According to reports in the Daily Telegraph and others, the NRL are interested in buying Super League and moving it back to winter so that players can play both in Super League and the NRL.
They also want to put together teams so that clubs have a sister side that they can share players with and development of young players especially.
Even after the defeat to Wigan, the NRL is still interested in purchasing Super League.
Wigan Warriors are Champions of Super League and the world
Abbas Miski got the first points on the board for the Wigan Warriors, surpassing 150 points for Wigan, as a looping pass from Bevan French found Miski on the right wing to dive over in the North East corner. A testing first kick for Harry Smith from the touchline was just short of the uprights as Wigan held the 4-0 lead.
Wigan defended well for a short period and an overlap on the right edge saw Brian To’o denied in the right corner after fantastic cover defence from Jai Field and Liam Marshall.
The Panthers got on the board in the 26th minute as a kick to the corner wasn’t dealt with to allow Cleary to weave his way under the sticks, converting his own effort to put the visitors into a 6-4 lead.
Wigan fought back well though and Kruise Leeming, who was introduced to the action only a few minutes earlier, backed up some great right side work to dive over for Wigan’s second try of the night. Harry Smith converted to see Wigan into a 10-6 lead.
Penrith’s Dylan Edwards crossed late in the half to cut the deficit, the effort was converted by Nathan Cleary to see Wigan trail narrowly at half time.
A tough contest ensued in the second half as both teams continued to turnover the ball.
Wigan got themselves back in front once more in the 54th minute as a grubber kick through was collected by Jake Wardle to shake off his defence and get the ball down under pressure from the Panthers. Harry Smith added a second conversion for 16-12.
The arm wrestle continued as Mike Cooper re-entered the action for the final 12 minutes.
Nathan Cleary thought he had got one back for the Panthers going into the final 10 minutes but an excellent last ditch tackle from Jai Field saw Taylan May into touch into the build up and the video referee chalked off the effort as it remained 16-12 in Wigan’s favour.
Wigan thought they had almost sealed it as Bevan French chased a kick through to dive under the uprights but the video referee denied the effort for an offside in the build-up. Wigan still held the 16-12 lead with 8 minutes to play.
Wigan held firm in the dying minutes as Penrith went close but it was the Warriors who added a fifth Betfred World Club Challenge victory to their history.
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