Wigan Warriors vs Penrith Panthers Tips & Live Stream - Panthers to break hoodoo in World Club Challenge

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: 22 Feb 2024

Jeremy Darke 22 Feb 2024

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Wigan Warriors vs Penrith Panthers predictions for the World Club Challenge
This is the first World Club Challenge played in England in four years
Highly defensive game expected with total score to be under 30.5 points.

Expired

Penrith will look to win their first ever World Club Challenge after three losses. (Getty Images)

World Club Challenge Preview
Head to Head
Wigan Warriors Form
Wigan Warriors Team News
Penrith Panthers Form
Penrith Panthers Team News

World Club Challenge Preview

The Penrith Panthers are backed to take for revenge for their heartbreak loss in the World Club Challenge last year by beating the Wigan Warriors at DW Stadium in the 2024 edition.

The Panthers were heartbroken last year after tying the game 12-12 with no time left at BlueBet Stadium, sending the match into golden point with St Helens kicking the field goal to win it 13-12.

Defence will be at the forefront for both of these teams who had exceptional defensive records last season, averaging just over a converted try each throughout their regular season games.

I expect this will be a real back and forth tussle that will have this game go under the incredibly low total of 30.5 points with the Panthers getting the edge in the end. Penrith start as 5.5-point favourites which is a risky number so I will take the Panthers money line to be safe and build the kitty towards round 1 of the NRL.

Penrith averaged 13.0 points against per game last season.
Wigan averaged 13.33 points against per game last season.
3 of the last 5 World Club Challenge games have had a total score of less than 30 points.
Wigan have a 4-4 record in World Club Challenges, Penrith are 0-3.

Head to Head

Penrith and Wigan have met once back in 1991 with the Warriors victorious 21-4.

Wigan Warriors Form

Wigan qualified for the 2024 World Club Challenge by defeating the Catalan Dragons 10-2 in last season’s Suprer League Grand Final.

The Warriors finished the season with 20 wins and seven losses, winning the minor premiership on points differential with Catalan and St Helens both finishing the season with the same record.

Liam Marshall topped the tryscorers for Wigan with 20 four-pointers last season, with ex-Parramatta Eel Bevan French scoring 17 tries.

Wigan last played in the World Club Challenge when they were defeated by the Sydney Roosters 20-8 at DW Stadium in 2019. Two years prior, the Warriors beat Cronulla 22-6 in England.

Wigan Warriors Team News

Former St George Dragon Luke Thompson will miss the match under concussion protocol.

Penrith Panthers Form

The Panthers pulled off a three-peat with a 26-24 victory over the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL Grand Final.

It topped off another successful year for the Panthers, who also won the minor premiership with 18 wins and six losses, beating out Brisbane on points differential.

Nathan Cleary was the orchestrator all season for the Panthers, with the man they call the Ice Man putting his name forward as one of the greats of the game at just 26 years of age.

Penrith has played in three World Club Challenges and lost them all, including last year’s golden-point defeat 13-12 at the hands of St Helens in Penrith.

Penrith Panthers Team News

Jarome Luai will not risk reinjuring the shoulder that forced him off the field in the grand final last season and will miss the match. Young half Jack Cole will likely get the nod to partner Cleary.

Verdict

World Club Challenge

Penrith are backed to edge out Wigan and win their first World Club Challenge in a game the goes under 30.5 total points.

Penrith Panthers

Money Line

@8/15 - 4 Units

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

Bet at bet365

Under 30.5 Points

Game Total

@1/1 - 2 Units

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

Bet at bet365