Rugby League News

Wigan Warriors all but confirm World Club Challenge date as part of Super League fixture reveal

by
Sam Cook
November 22, 2023

The opening two rounds of Super League fixtures and the Rivals Round set for Easter were announced earlier tonight with Hull FC and Hull KR to take centre stage on opening night, but there was a bigger underlying story from reigning Super League champions Wigan Warriors.

It’s just less than six weeks since Matt Peet’s side lifted the Grand Final trophy at Old Trafford having defeated Catalans Dragons, and for their reward they will get to test themselves against the NRL champions Penrith Panthers.

St Helens breathed life into the World Club Challenge as a concept when they went down under last year and defeated the Panthers in their own back yard, a tremendous achievement and one that will live on forever.

As such the Panthers are now out to avenge that loss to an English side and aim to secure their first ever World Club Challenge, having lost all three that they’ve contested so far.

It’s been widely reported down under that the Panthers will head to England to try and claim that title, and with last night’s fixture announcements it seems Wigan may have leaked when the game is slated for.

Each Super League team confirmed both their round one fixture and their first home game, for some teams that was obviously the same game meaning they confirmed their round one clash.

However for Wigan they confirmed their first home game as being set for round three against Huddersfield Giants, not in round two as the official announcement suggests.

🏡 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗦𝗟 𝗙𝗶𝘅𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

We are pleased to announce that our first home @SuperLeague fixture of the 2024 season will be against @Giantsrl.

Full fixtures will be released at 8:30am tomorrow morning!#WWRL pic.twitter.com/8PHzJpdxXI

— Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) November 22, 2023

Round two is supposed to see Wigan host Leigh Leopards in another Battle of the Borough but Peet’s side will be contesting another big cat, with Penrith Panthers looking set to play them on that weekend of 24th February.

The Warriors went on to confirm their first game of the season comes against Castleford Tigers, away on Saturday 17th, whilst they travel to the Totally Wicked Stadium to face St Helens on Good Friday for Rivals Round.

The round one, two and rivals round fixtures can be seen below.

Round One

Thursday 15th February
Hull FC vs Hull KR

Friday 16th February
Leeds Rhinos vs Salford Red Devils
St Helens vs London Broncos
Leigh Leopards vs Huddersfield Giants

Saturday 17th February
Castleford Tigers vs Wigan Warriors
Catalans Dragons vs Warrington Wolves

Round Two

Thursday 22nd February
Hull KR vs Leeds Rhinos

Friday 23rd February
London Broncos vs Catalans Dragons
Warrington Wolves vs Hull FC
Wigan Warriors vs Leigh Leopards

Saturday 24th February
Huddersfield Giants vs St Helens

Sunday 25th February
Salford vs Castleford Tigers

Rivals Round

Thursday 28th March
Castleford Tigers vs Leeds Rhinos