NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has confirmed the World Club Challenge is back on the agenda after it was cancelled last year.
Scheduling led to the axing with Penrith faced by a situation where it would have to play the match then head to Las Vegas for round one.
The last date it could have been played was February 15 or 16, which would have been the opening round of the Super League.
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Penrith’s stance in October was it wouldn’t play before the start of the season and in the end a resolution couldn’t be found with Wigan.
Wigan won the World Club Challenge in 2024. Â Getty
However, Abdo confirmed to the ABC before the NRL grand final that it will go ahead.
“Yes, we’ll wait and see who wins both competitions and then work with the RFL to facilitate that,” he said.
“In terms of when it’s played and where it’s played, we normally wait until we have both winners and work with both clubs in terms of the scheduling.
“The World Club Challenge is pretty important to the game and quite unique and it’s definitely something we’ll work with the clubs on.”
Brisbane will play the winner of the Super League grand final, which goes ahead on Sunday (AEDT) with Hull KR up against Wigan.
The Broncos lift the Provan-Summons Trophy. Â Getty
If Wigan wins it opens the door for the World Club Challenge to be played in Las Vegas.
Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos are the two Super League clubs facing off in Sin City, while the NRL clubs are the Bulldogs, Dragons, Knights and Cowboys.
The last time an NRL team won the Challenge was in 2020 with the Roosters.
COVID cancelled the next two events before St Helens and Wigan won in 2023 and 2024.
Since it started as an annual fixture in 2000, Brisbane has lost twice.