PAINFUL NEWS: Panthers player died in an car crash today…

‘Just so hard’: Panthers defend abandoning World Club Challenge as star disappointed by call

Premiership-winning Penrith co-captain Isaah Yeo says it’s just too hard to add the World Club Challenge to their pre-season, but it’s “disappointing” that the players have missed the opportunity to cross off the one box they haven’t checked throughout their four years of dominance.

For a number of reasons, including the heavy player load, Penrith authorities confirmed that the four-time premiership team would not play the victor of Sunday’s Super League championship between Wigan and Hull KR.

With players not expected back at training until January, the Panthers don’t want to add a February matchup with the UK Super League winners to their already packed calendar that includes a trip to Las Vegas for round one of the 2025 season.

Yeo, who was named Penrith’s player of the year, is aware of this, but they are unable to overcome the obstacle due to the workload and the fixture.

He remarked, “To be fair, you’d love to get it on, I just don’t know you could work it,” during the Panthers’ official fan celebration on Wednesday.

As a group, we would definitely like to as it’s something we’ve missed and essentially the one thing absent from the resume. You would adore the chance to try and atone for that again.

“Vegas is just so difficult. I think we would have a shot if we weren’t doing Vegas, but it only makes things more difficult.

Players in the NRL are required to take a 10-week vacation following the season, but as Penrith has up to 12 players scheduled to compete in the Pacific Championships or Samoa’s tour of England, that leave period will be extended.

Superstar Nathan Cleary is one of several athletes that require post-season surgery. He may have as little as six or eight weeks of training before the Las Vegas first round.