World club challenge

[cookey]

Would be nice if the Broncos could have a warm up at Catalans - dont suppose they will unfortunately. 

[The Future is League]

On 14/10/2025 at 19:00, cookey said:

Would be nice if the Broncos could have a warm up at Catalans - dont suppose they will unfortunately. 

As long as the Catalans don't have to pay the travelling expenses of the Broncos 

[Jonty58]

Reports from down under are that the Broncos want to play the WCC but getting a suitable date could be an issue.

 

[Damien]

Interesting and if this is genuine seems odd they would turn it down. I can understand Hull KR wanting it at home though for their first appearance in it.

Money like this could revolutionise the concept and elevate it to another level. Even playing more mid way opens up so many more chances for the game to be played at other times:

Hull KR and Brisbane Broncos have turned down a mega-money offer to take the World Club Challenge to Qatar.

Organisers received a seven-figure offer from the country to take the game between the Super League and NRL champions overseas, and it was considered by all parties, given the financial appeal and Qatar's enthusiasm to land the event.

However, the two clubs have decided to keep the game in the UK next year, with the Robins set to stage the match in Hull. Both clubs were keen for the game to be played in the UK, where a sell-out crowd is expected off the back of Wigan's success in 2024 when they defeated Penrith Panthers.

https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/news/qatar-launch-mega-money-move-1477753

 

 

[Wellsy4HullFC]

49 minutes ago, Damien said:

Interesting and if this is genuine seems odd they would turn it down. I can understand Hull KR wanting it at home though for their first appearance in it.

Money like this could revolutionise the concept and elevate it to another level. Even playing more mid way opens up so many more chances for the game to be played at other times:

Hull KR and Brisbane Broncos have turned down a mega-money offer to take the World Club Challenge to Qatar.

Organisers received a seven-figure offer from the country to take the game between the Super League and NRL champions overseas, and it was considered by all parties, given the financial appeal and Qatar's enthusiasm to land the event.

However, the two clubs have decided to keep the game in the UK next year, with the Robins set to stage the match in Hull. Both clubs were keen for the game to be played in the UK, where a sell-out crowd is expected off the back of Wigan's success in 2024 when they defeated Penrith Panthers.

https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/news/qatar-launch-mega-money-move-1477753

 

 

I think it would be unfair to ask fans to travel between Qatar and Las Vegas at all, let alone on such short notice when some might already have booked places in Vegas. 

On top of that, it being their first, they'll want to keep it in the city if or that's an option. 

One for the future of the competition though.

[Leyther_Matt]

51 minutes ago, Damien said:

Interesting and if this is genuine seems odd they would turn it down. I can understand Hull KR wanting it at home though for their first appearance in it.

Money like this could revolutionise the concept and elevate it to another level. Even playing more mid way opens up so many more chances for the game to be played at other times:

Hull KR and Brisbane Broncos have turned down a mega-money offer to take the World Club Challenge to Qatar.

Organisers received a seven-figure offer from the country to take the game between the Super League and NRL champions overseas, and it was considered by all parties, given the financial appeal and Qatar's enthusiasm to land the event.

However, the two clubs have decided to keep the game in the UK next year, with the Robins set to stage the match in Hull. Both clubs were keen for the game to be played in the UK, where a sell-out crowd is expected off the back of Wigan's success in 2024 when they defeated Penrith Panthers.

https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/news/qatar-launch-mega-money-move-1477753

 

 

With the recent controversies in football about La Liga taking games abroad, this really should be a feather in the RL cap

[Damien]

4 minutes ago, Wellsy4HullFC said:

I think it would be unfair to ask fans to travel between Qatar and Las Vegas at all, let alone on such short notice when some might already have booked places in Vegas. 

On top of that, it being their first, they'll want to keep it in the city if or that's an option. 

One for the future of the competition though.

I was talking about the future really. The WCC should be seen as bigger than playing a game in Vegas. A big cash sum would certainly go a long way to getting everybody onside.

[Coggo]

57 minutes ago, Damien said:

Interesting and if this is genuine seems odd they would turn it down. I can understand Hull KR wanting it at home though for their first appearance in it.

Money like this could revolutionise the concept and elevate it to another level. Even playing more mid way opens up so many more chances for the game to be played at other times:

Hull KR and Brisbane Broncos have turned down a mega-money offer to take the World Club Challenge to Qatar.

Organisers received a seven-figure offer from the country to take the game between the Super League and NRL champions overseas, and it was considered by all parties, given the financial appeal and Qatar's enthusiasm to land the event.

However, the two clubs have decided to keep the game in the UK next year, with the Robins set to stage the match in Hull. Both clubs were keen for the game to be played in the UK, where a sell-out crowd is expected off the back of Wigan's success in 2024 when they defeated Penrith Panthers.

https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/news/qatar-launch-mega-money-move-1477753

 

 

Good. A World Club Challenge in Qatar would be shiite, and possibly kill it.

[Damien]

6 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

With the recent controversies in football about La Liga taking games abroad, this really should be a feather in the RL cap

We have long taken games abroad. There is no feather in the cap here.

[sam4731]

This could be the perfect opportunity to slightly expand the format in the future. I'm not talking to 1997 proportions but maybe 3 teams from each comp participating. The lack of financial motivation has always been the main barrier to making something of the WCC so why not strike while the irons hot.

[Damien]

1 minute ago, Coggo said:

Good. A World Club Challenge in Qatar would be shiite, and possibly kill it.

If the money was there I'm not sure how it would kill it compared to all of the years it already hasn't taken place or the current lack of status in Australia.

[Wigan Riversider]

5 minutes ago, Damien said:

If the money was there I'm not sure how it would kill it compared to all of the years it already hasn't taken place or the current lack of status in Australia.

Plenty of money there, lots of hotels, not too hot in January or February, flights are expensive however.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

I completely understand that the kind of money been offered here should be very appealing to a sport the size of ours but as a passionate RL fan, I am getting just a bit fed up of the Middle East essentially buying sports.

While I'm an FC fan, if this game is in Hull I will definitely look at going, as I'm sure thousands of other FC fans would. The stadium would be packed with passionate fans, thousands supporting Brisbane as well as the home team. The atmosphere would be incredible and it would be such a good advert for our sport.

If this was held in Qatar, due to the cost and inconvenience of getting out there, the stadium would be basically empty with absolutely no atmosphere whatsoever, which would certainly affect the quality of the game as well. 

Another sport I love, snooker, has been selling out to the Middle East recently. There's a tournament coming up in Riyadh soon and another ball has been added to the table to make it possible to make a 167 break; just because you've got a load of money shouldn't mean you can actually change the rules of the sport!! And again, these snooker tournaments out there are getting hardly any fans in. The arenas are completely empty and lifelong fans such as myself can't go but don't worry because the snooker authorities have loads of oil money in their pockets.

I'm completely fed up with Middle East sportswashing. 

[Leyther_Matt]

1 hour ago, Damien said:

We have long taken games abroad. There is no feather in the cap here.

I’d say there is certainly some credit when it comes down to turning down Qatari cash. We must be one of the few sports relatively untouched by sport washing. 

[Damien]

35 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

I’d say there is certainly some credit when it comes down to turning down Qatari cash. We must be one of the few sports relatively untouched by sport washing. 

You said playing abroad not sports washing, thats a different discussion. As for that though Id say RL is untouched because the money has never been there. I certainly doubt RL is somehow immune strictly out of choice.

[Dunbar]

Well done Hull for thinking about their fans and giving as many of them as possible the chance to enjoy this game.

[Leyther_Matt]

2 hours ago, Damien said:

You said playing abroad not sports washing, thats a different discussion. As for that though Id say RL is untouched because the money has never been there. I certainly doubt RL is somehow immune strictly out of choice.

Either way, I think both are a positive, even when taking in to account the games in Vegas as at least they’re league games and not something of the magnitude of the WCC. 

[DG70]

If Qatar have any interest in Rugby League and especially the Super League there's a club primed for major investment just off the Barton bridge.

[Copa]

Broncos are going to the UK

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2025-world-club-challenge-back-on-brisbane-broncos-to-take-on-hull-kr-in-uk-in-february-michael-maguire-reece-walsh/news-story/c9c84b619d73f28be06c497bcef4d674

[lucky 7]

2 hours ago, Copa said:

Broncos are going to the UK

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2025-world-club-challenge-back-on-brisbane-broncos-to-take-on-hull-kr-in-uk-in-february-michael-maguire-reece-walsh/news-story/c9c84b619d73f28be06c497bcef4d674

I think that all WCC games should be played in places like Singapore and chase the corporate dollar, where they are quite wealthy expat communities for both countries

[Copa]

3 minutes ago, lucky 7 said:

I think that all WCC games should be played in places like Singapore and chase the corporate dollar, where they are quite wealthy expat communities for both countries

No way. It’s a one off winner takes all match. Play it where the teams’ fans can watch their team play.

[lucky 7]

2 minutes ago, Copa said:

No way. It’s a one off winner takes all match. Play it where the teams’ fans can watch their team play.

I repeat chase the corporate Dollar, but let's agree to disagree

[Wellsy4HullFC]

42 minutes ago, lucky 7 said:

I think that all WCC games should be played in places like Singapore and chase the corporate dollar, where they are quite wealthy expat communities for both countries

It's like you've not read any of the posts directly before the one you're replying to!

[Wellsy4HullFC]

2 hours ago, Copa said:

Broncos are going to the UK

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2025-world-club-challenge-back-on-brisbane-broncos-to-take-on-hull-kr-in-uk-in-february-michael-maguire-reece-walsh/news-story/c9c84b619d73f28be06c497bcef4d674

This doesn't appear to be "news" at all. It's just a repeat of what we already knew (the game needs to be in the UK due to Vegas, Brisbane are still happy to travel, game likely to be at MKM), but with added self-aggrandizing viewpoint of the NRL as the saviours.

[Copa]

36 minutes ago, lucky 7 said:

I repeat chase the corporate Dollar, but let's agree to disagree

The Broncos have wealthier fans, and greater corporate support, in Brisbane.

It’s the biggest sports team in SE QLD, a region of over 4 million people. Polling this year shows the broncos have 1,271,000 supporters.