The Broncos’ bid to add the World Club Challenge to their trophy cabinet is in serious doubt with scheduling issues meaning the event could be cancelled for the second straight year.

The Daily Telegraph reported the future of the World Club Challenge is under a cloud amid scheduling conflicts with the NRL and Super League’s Las Vegas season opening extravaganza.

The Broncos are keen to play the winners of the Super League for the title of world champions, but the fact Hull KR beat Wigan in the Super League final has thrown a spanner in the works.

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Hull KR are one of the teams set to feature in the Las Vegas season opener in 2026 and will play Leeds Rhinos on March 1, meaning the World Club Challenge would need to take place two weeks before.

Hull can’t be expected to travel to Australia for the World Club Challenge before heading to America for the clash with Leeds, which would keep them away for a month.

Meanwhile, the Broncos would have to travel to England to play the fixture in mid-February to give them time to acclimatise to the northern hemisphere conditions.

Both scenarios would raise player welfare concerns, especially for the Broncos, who played until the October 5 Grand Final this year and have four stars in Pat Carrigan, Gehamat Shibasaki, Kotoni Staggs and Reece Walsh playing for the Kangaroos in the Ashes series, which ends on November 9.

NRL players are entitled to annual leave privileges with senior players permitted a 10-week off-season through the NRL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.

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The Broncos’ World Club Challenge clash with Hull KR could be scrapped.Source: Getty Images

The potential to play the World Club Challenge after Las Vegas is not an option because the NRL season kicks off in early March, with the teams not in Las Vegas, including the Broncos playing their Round 1 fixtures.

This year’s World Club Challenge between the Panthers and Wigan Warriors was cancelled after the NRL premiers felt their pre-season would be cut short, before having to fly to the US for their season-opening fixture against Sharks at Allegiant Stadium.

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NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said he would hold talks with the Broncos and Hull KR before deciding whether the World Club Challenge went ahead in 2026.

Broncos coach Michael Maguire was hopeful the game could be played, but conceded there were logistical nightmares for both sides.

“We’re hoping to play the World Club Challenge but Hull KR won and they actually play in Vegas,” Maguire told The Daily Telegraph.

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“It will be interesting to see how it plays out now. We are waiting to see what may happen. It’s something we will talk about.

“It would be nice to have the World Club Challenge because it’s always great to travel away with your players and do something special when a trophy is available.”