Why leading footy commentator believes the Penrith Panthers should be AXED from Magic Round in 2025

The World Club Challenge for 2025 is reportedly in jeopardy if Wigan win this weekend’s final at Old Trafford – but commentator Andrew Voss has a novel solution to the problem.

Penrith’s NRL grand final victory means whoever wins the upcoming Super League final between Wigan and Hull KR will be expected to travel Down Under to play the World Club Challenge.

The big problem is if Wigan are victorious they reportedly won’t contest the WCC as it conflicts with their scheduling to play in Las Vegas. 

The Panthers have said they will not travel to England for the match because they will also play their season opener in Las Vegas.

NRL Fox Sports commentator Andrew Voss has come up with a possible solution to the problem, suggesting that the match could happen during Magic Round.

‘Could we go to the UK Super League and say, “Look, for next year, Magic Round, Penrith have the bye. We’re going to give Penrith the bye”,’ Voss said on SEN Breakfast with Vossy & Brandy.

‘We will make the World Club Challenge the feature game on the Saturday night.’

The Panthers have lost the last two WCC matches, having gone down in a 13-12 heartbreaker to St Helens at home in 2023 and 16-12 to Wigan in 2024.

Andrew Voss suggested that the match could be played during Magic Round

Wigan boss Matt Peet believes that the Super League should be given more respect after Super League clubs have become back-to-back World Club Challenge champions.

And while the NRL is widely seen as a far superior league with more money and TV viewers, Peet believes the English should start trumpeting their league.

‘The NRL is an unbelievable competition, it’s got so much going for it, it’s flying, but we have got a good competition as well,’ said Peet, whose side have now matched the record of Sydney Roosters with five World Club Challenge trophies.

Wigan beat the the Penrith Panthers 16-12 in a dramatic match last year

‘We know what we have got in this country and we should take more pride in it. We talk too much about what they think of us, but we should just concern ourselves with what we think of ourselves.

‘I am proud to be a rugby league man. I am proud of rugby league in the North West of England. We shouldn’t shy away from what we are. We are rugby league people who represent working class people.

‘I am not too fussed about the NRL. We admire it. It’s an unbelievable competition. But we have a special competition ourselves with some special individuals.’