Penrith Panthers concerned over controversial rules ahead of Wigan Warriors clash

Penrith Panthers have requested clarity over the new controversial rules in Super League around contact with the head ahead of their World Club Challenge clash with Wigan Warriors.

The Panthers, according to the NRL.com, are expecting a meeting with RFL officials over the new rules which saw 16 players charged in Round One of Super League and nine banned with three more likely to follow at tribunal.

Co-captain Nathan Cleary told NRL.com: “There’s still a few [rules] we need to tidy up on, we were just asking about a couple today.

“We obviously know it’s going to be different. Again, it’s difficult because at the end of the day it sort of comes down to the adjudication of the ref and how they’re going to ref it.

“Some things you’ll just know on the day, particularly in terms of time in the ruck, flopping in and all that sort of stuff.

“I saw there were so many send-offs in the Super League at the weekend. It was almost like us in 2021, there was that crackdown in Magic Round. There was heaps of people getting sin binned and all that.

“We’ll just be telling the boys ‘don’t hit anyone in the head’! We don’t want to be losing anyone. You shouldn’t be doing that anyway. I think we’ll be alright”

Rules for Wigan Warriors World Club Challenge revealed

The match will be played under international rules at the home of the Wigan Warriors. This means no two-point field goals and a six-again for ruck infringements no matter where they are on the field.

The World Cup in England in 2022 had captain’s challenges while Super League does not; this is likely to be a point of conversation between the Panthers and the RFL.

Co-captain Isaah Yeo said he did not expect the edict on high shots to carry over from Super League.

“I think we go off international rules there,” he said. “It felt like you can get away with a bit more in the ruck and slow it down a little bit going off last year’s World Club Challenge.

“They probably put the whistle away too. They want to make it a good spectacle. It’s a bit like a finals game as well.

“I feel like there won’t be too much that’s different. In Super League they’re really cracking down on stuff to do with the head. That’s probably a good thing.”

Penrith will battle Super League Champions Wigan Warriors on Saturday night at 8 pm.