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AAP
AAP
George Clarke

Panthers keen to rise to World Club Challenge

Penrith were unable to get to grips with St Helens in 2023's World Club Challenge in Sydney. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary wants his side to contest the World Club Challenge in 2024 and secure the one piece of silverware that has eluded the Panthers.

For all their dominance in the NRL in recent seasons en route to three-straight premierships, Penrith have yet to be considered world champions.

The COVID-19 pandemic removed their chance to participate in the fixture, which pits the winner of England's Super League against the NRL premiers, after they won the 2020 and 2021 NRL premierships.

A near-full strength Panthers hosted the first World Club Challenge since the start of the pandemic earlier this year.

But Penrith were upset by a dogged St Helens side, who became the first British outfit to win the game on Australian soil in 29 years.

Saints' 13-12 victory means Penrith have lost every time they have contested the 'world championship' game.

But Cleary is keen to put that right, with the Panthers coach happy to travel to the UK or host the event in Australia.

"It would be awesome to get another crack at it," Cleary told AAP.

"We were pretty bummed about that one.

"We absolutely gave it our best, it was the first game of the year and St Helens were too good for us that night.

"It would be nice to get another shot at it."

Penrith are not one of the four clubs heading to Las Vegas to kick off the 2024 NRL season, meaning they could feasibly make the trip to the UK in February.

This year, the event formed part of the NRL's Pre-Season Challenge competition and was hosted in Australia for the first time in nearly a decade.

There is every chance the Panthers could again face St Helens for a shot at redemption, with the Merseyside-based club chasing a fifth-straight title in the UK.

Saints are one of four sides left in the Super League play-offs ahead of the October 14 grand final, with Wigan, Hull Kingston Rovers and French club Catalans Dragons also still in contention. 

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