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Penrith Panthers v St Helens World Club Challenge Betting Tips & Predictions
Back-to-back NRL Premiers Penrith Panthers welcome four-in-a-row Super League champions St Helens to be crowned the best club rugby league side on the planet.
This will be the 27th instalment of the World Club Challenge since its inception in 1987, British teams have won the tournament 13 times with Wigan being the last team to do so in 2017 when they defeated the Cronulla Sharks.
Since then, there has been three matches with the NRL teams winning them all. Melbourne Storm beat Leeds Rhinos in 2018, while the Sydney Roosters beat Wigan and St Helens in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
A lot of so-called experts in Australia have already written the Saints off before a ball has been kicked. Saints coach Paul Wellens only needs to print newspaper cuttings out and stick them in the dressing room, there is no need for a team talk.
They have been given no chance but trust me this St Helens team are very special. Being a Wigan fan, I have no love for the Saints, but credit where it’s due, they are amazing, and they will give the Panthers a scare.
Penrith are obvious favourites to win the game, but they will not have it all their own way. With the likes of Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Jack Welsby, Mark Percival, Tommy Makinson and James Roby, they have plenty of match-winners.
Penrith have quality as well. Nathan Clearly and Jarome Luai are probably the best half-back pairing in the game, while they also have Stephen Crichton, Dylan Edwards, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o and Moses Leota.
Saints will give Penrith a game for the first 60 minutes, then I think the Panthers will take over. It will not be the drubbing all the experts in Australia believe it will be.
Back the Panthers to win the game by 11-15 points. When it comes to scoring tries, back To’o to grab a brace and also go with Saints substitute Joey Lussick scoring at any time.
