The World Club Challenge is back and next month we will see NRL Premiers Brisbane Broncos take on Super League Grand Final winners Hull KR for the right to be called the best in the world.
English clubs have been successful in the fixture as of late, with both St Helens (2023) and Wigan Warriors (2024) emerging victorious over Penrith Panthers.
This year’s event will take place at the MKM Stadium, home of Hull FC, as the Broncos make the trip to East Yorkshire for one of the sport’s most prestigious fixtures.
Their line-up is set to be star-studded, with a plethora of internationals expected to be included. Boss Michael Maguire has already revealed he will be taking the contest seriously, and with the greatest respect, with many in Australia believing the game is nothing more than a warm-up fixture.
Australia star Reece Walsh will be the headline inclusion, if selected, with prop Payne Haas another huge asset to the Broncos side. Grand Final winner Tyson Smoothy has now moved to Wakefield Trinity, so their 17 won’t be the exact same as the Grand Final, and with that in mind, we’ve taken a look at how Brisbane could line-up on February 19.
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Brisbane Broncos potential World Club Challenge line-up against Hull KR
Full-back: Reece Walsh
The aforementioned Walsh is one of, if not the best player in the world at the moment, and has the ability to change a game at a moment’s notice. He was named Man of the Match in the Grand Final, and after impressing English fans in the Ashes, he will get the chance to do that once again next month.
Wingers: Josiah Karapani and Deine MarinerÂ
The two wingers that started the Grand Final, Karapani became a regular in the side towards the end of the season, whilst Mariner opened the scoring in the finale win over Melboune. The club have also brought in Storm edge player Grant Anderson, who can cover centre or wing if needed.
Centres: Gehamat Shibasaki and Kotoni Staggs
This pairing could have been the starting centres for Australia in the Ashes, however Staggs was a late withdrawal after picking up an injury. Both are expected to be fit and ready for the new season, and if they perform as they did in 2025, will once again be so influential to the Broncos performances. The pair scored 30 tries between them last season.
Halves: Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds
Mam started on the bench in the Grand Final, but will no doubt be back in the 13 once the season kicks off. Veteran Reynolds will partner him, with the former Rabbitoh having a wealth of experience, including in the World Club Challenge after playing in the competition against St Helens in 2015.
Props: Payne Haas and Corey Jensen
Samoan international Haas is perhaps the best forward in the world, and whilst there are questions over his long-term future, he will still be at the Broncos this year. Partnering him will be Jensen, who has amassed just short of 150 NRL appearances in his career, often switching between a starting and a bench role.
Hooker: Ben Hunt
Partnering Reynolds in the halves in the Grand Final, Hunt will return to his natural position of hooker, and is almost guaranteed that spot after the injury to Billy Walters and the departure of Smoothy to Wakefield. He is likely to rotate with Blake Mozer, with is likely to be selected on the bench.
Back Row: Brendan Piakura and Jordan Riki
Piakura has found himself out of the side last season, through a mixture of injury and selection. However, with a strong pre-season under his belt, he is expected to regain that place in the 13, partnering Riki and moving Jack Gosiewski to the bench.
Loose Forward: Patrick Carrigan
The Ashes star is another that barely needs introducing, with the Broncos captain having another brilliant year for club and country.
Bench: Blake Mozer, Ben Talty, Xavier Willison and Jack Gosiewski
