Brisbane Broncos have revealed their position on taking a game to the Middle East after the lucrative World Club Challenge offer.
12:17, 23 Nov 2025Updated 12:18, 23 Nov 2025
Hull KR and Brisbane Broncos will meet in February in the World Club Challenge.
The Brisbane Broncos could yet feature in a Middle Eastern showdown in the near future after receiving an official invitation to play the World Club Challenge in the region.
As first reported by All Out Rugby League, organisers of the World Club Challenge declined a lucrative offer to stage the marquee match in Qatar due to logistical hurdles.
Willie Peters’ treble-champions will fly to Las Vegas towards the end of February for the highly-anticipated clash with Leeds Rhinos at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, February 28, forming part of the NRL’s showcase event in the entertainment capital of the world.
Next year’s World Club Challenge is set for the week prior, on Thursday, February 19, with the MKM Stadium selling out in record time.
The overseas proposal – backed by substantial financial incentives – was given serious consideration by all parties, with Qatar eager to host the event. The Arabian government were reportedly prepared to pay up to around £740,000 to stage the fixture and bring over Brisbane Broncos and Hull KR.
Following their 2025 premiership triumph over the Melbourne Storm in an epic Grand Final, the Broncos are understood to be keen to revisit opportunities in the Middle East.
“It would have been the richest rugby league game in the world,” Brisbane Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy told The Courier Mail.
“We had an approach from a Middle Eastern venue that put forward an offer for us to play there. We were certainly interested.
“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to achieve it because of their [Hull KR] commitments with Vegas, but it shows there is an appetite for rugby league from new markets.
“In time, I’m sure it’s something the game would love to consider.
“There is a lot of excitement in Brisbane around the Broncos which is something we don’t take for granted, but the opportunity to take the World Club Challenge to new markets has put the Broncos on a world stage.”