The 2023 World Club Challenge (known as the 2023 Betfred World Club Challenge for sponsorship reasons) was the 29th staging of the World Club Challenge. The match was contested by the NRL winners Penrith Panthers, and Super League champions St Helens.[1][2][3]
| 2023 World Club Challenge | ||||||||||||||||
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 Penrith Stadium during the match | ||||||||||||||||
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| Date | 18 February 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| Stadium | BlueBet Stadium | |||||||||||||||
| Location | Sydney, Australia | |||||||||||||||
| Man of the Match | Jack Welsby (St Helens) | |||||||||||||||
| Referee | Ashley Klein (Australia) | |||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 13,873 | |||||||||||||||
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| Commentators |
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Background
The challenge was played for the first time since 2020 as the global COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the intervening fixtures.[4]
Penrith Panthers
Penrith defeated Parramatta Eels in the 2022 NRL Grand Final, which qualified them for the 2023 World Club Challenge.
St Helens
St Helens and the Leeds Rhinos competed in the 2022 Super League Grand Final, for a record fifth time at Old Trafford, which saw St Helens win 24–12.
Pre-match
Team selection
Following the departures of Viliame Kikau, Apisai Koroisau, and Charlie Staines to other clubs, Penrith fielded a team with 11 members of their 2022 grand final team. 2022 Clive Churchill Medallist and regular fullback Dylan Edwards missed the match through injury,[5] with Liam Martin and Scott Sorensen also absent through injury concerns.[6]
Officiating
Australian referee Ashley Klein was selected to referee his third World Club Challenge, having previously been in charge of the 2008 and 2012 fixtures.
Match
Summary
The match was originally scheduled to kick off at 18:00 AEDT but due to the extreme heat and humidity forecast for that time, the kick off time was put back to 18:50 AEDT.[7] The NRL also announced that the game will be played in four quarters of 20 minutes each, with each team allowed an additional interchange player and two extra interchanges allowed during the match.[8] Despite the forecast, a large storm hit the stadium shortly before kick-off, with torrential rain falling for a lot of the match.
St Helens scored twice early through Jack Welsby and Konrad Hurrell, eventually taking a 10-0 lead to half time.
After an extended half time break due to lightning above the stadium, Penrith finally got on the board in the 52nd minute through Izack Tago, before St Helens added a penalty goal to extend their lead to 12-6.
Saints looked to have won the match with two minutes remaining, but Brian To'o scored a try to bring Penrith to within two points, before Nathan Cleary kicked the conversion, to send the match to extra time.
St Helens eventually won the match 13–12, after a knock on from Penrith gave Saints possession near the halfway line, before Lewis Dodd kicked the winning drop goal.[9]
Details
Penrith Panthers  | 12–13 (g.p.) |  St Helens |
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| Tries: 2 Tago  53'To'o 79'Goals: 2 Cleary  54', 80' (2/2) | 1st: 0–10 2nd: 12–2 ET: 0–1 Report | Tries: 2 Welsby 9'Hurrell 17'Goals: 2 Makinson 10' (1/2)Percival pen 44' (1/1)Drop goals: 1 Dodd 83' |
BlueBet Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 13,873 Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia) Touch judges: Darian Furner (Australia), Dave Munro (Australia) Player of the Match: Jack Welsby (St Helens) |
Statistics
Penrith Panthers:
- Most runs: 26 – Stephen Crichton
- Most running metres: 214 – Stephen Crichton
- Most line breaks: 1 – Taylan May
- Most tackles: 51 – Zac Hosking
- Most missed tackles: 5 – Mitch Kenny
- Most errors: 3 – Nathan Cleary
St Helens:
- Most runs: 21 –
- Most running metres: 181 – Alex Walmsley
- Most line breaks: 1 –
- Most tackles: 50 –
- Most missed tackles: 7 – Morgan Knowles
- Most errors: 3 – Jack Welsby
Broadcasting
The match was broadcast in Australia on subscription television channel Fox League and streamed via Kayo Sports. In the United Kingdom, Channel 4 and Sky Sports showed the match live.[10]