Penrith Panthers NRL players Isaah Yeo and Dylan Edwards were put through their paces in preparation for the start of the 2023 NRL pre-season challenge.
The 2022 Panthers co-captain, Yeo, and his Clive Churchill medallist-winning teammate, Edwards, were at Hickson Road Reserve in Sydney to kick off the new-look competition.
The pre-season challenge begins live and exclusive on Fox League from Thursday, February 9 and will be available on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
Consisting of 18 matches over two weeks, the Pre-Season Challenge features international Super League champions St Helens who will be out to prove themselves against Australia’s best.
The two weeks will include what is set to be a blockbuster World Club Challenge (WCC) on Saturday, 18 February, with reigning Premiers, the Penrith Panthers, hosting St Helens in front of jam-packed crowd at BlueBet Stadium. The winner of this match walks away with $100k.
Reigning Premiership captain Isaah Yeo said: “I am feeling refreshed and excited, and it will be a very hard fought and entertaining match for the World Club Challenge, leading into what I hope will be a successful NRL 2023 campaign’’.
Fox League expert and Panthers legend Greg Alexander said: “The Panthers will need to put their best team forward to walk away with a win.
“The big game of the pre-season is the World Club Challenge and it’s great to have it back after a few years hiatus with the Panthers desperate to win a trophy that has evaded the club so far.
“The players came back a week early from their break so they could qualify for the match. That shows their intent and how serious they are taking it. The Panthers will have to be at their best to win the clubs first World Club Challenge’.”
The first match of the 2023 NRL pre-season challenge begins on Thursday, February 9, with the New Zealand Warriors taking on the West Tigers at 6 pm (AEDT) live and exclusively on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.