Hull KR chief Paul Lakin has moved to refute claims that the World Club Challenge is in danger of being cancelled again, with the Robins and the Brisbane Broncos keen to ensure the game goes ahead
Hull Kingston Rovers chief Paul Lakin has dismissed suggestions that the World Club Challenge is in jeopardy, maintaining the Robins are extremely eager to ensure the fixture takes place.
Australian reports on Monday suggested the match was at risk of cancellation once more due to Rovers’ involvement in the NRL’s Las Vegas event, with the Robins facing Leeds Rhinos at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, February 28th, just seven days before the World Club Challenge has been scheduled by organisers.
Rovers would presumably face the Broncos before jetting to America the following day, and it has been proposed that this could present an insurmountable logistical hurdle.
However, Lakin has dismissed such concerns by emphasising the club’s determination to take part, with Brisbane equally enthusiastic about travelling to the UK to clash with the Super League champions.
“The aim is to have a conversation by Tuesday with Rhodri Jones (RL Commercial) and Brisbane Broncos,” Lakin told All Out Rugby League. “My understanding is they’re keen to come over and we’re very keen to play them. It’s very new for us, Rhodri will guide us, but we’re keen to play it and I hear they are.
“I had some tentative conversations with Rhodri on Friday but you don’t like to speak too much because you’re not in it. But I got nothing but the impression that they’re keen to come over. They’re either the biggest or close to being the biggest club in the NRL. It’s exciting; we want to host them in Hull, I don’t see any reason why it won’t happen.”
Lakin also confirmed that the MKM Stadium, home to Hull FC, their cross-city rivals, is being considered as a potential venue due to its larger capacity compared to Sewell Group Craven Park.
“Genuine answer, I don’t know yet,” he responded when questioned about the location of the game.
“We’ve not seen any numbers. Could it be at the MKM? It could possibly be because it could be an opportunity to maximise what is the biggest game at domestic level and it’s an opportunity to get 24,000 supporters rather than 12 or 13,000. It’s something we want to look into.
“It’s more about having the opportunity to get twice as many people to watch the game live and it’s something we’ve got to consider. Clearly financially but also as a spectacle how we can promote the sport the best we can and maybe that is to take it to a bigger stadium.
“But genuinely, I don’t know yet because we’ve not had any discussions, as it wasn’t right to before we won the Grand Final. Those discussions will start Monday but what I can tell you is that both clubs are very keen to make it happen.”