World Club Challenge 2026: Hull KR's opportunity to defy natural sporting order with victory over Brisbane Broncos
Hull KR will go into the World Club Challenge as underdogs against the Brisbane Broncos as Super League's best takes on the NRL's best; Watch the World Club Challenge between Hull KR and Brisbane Broncos from 7pm on Thursday February 19 live on Sky Sports
Tuesday 17 February 2026 10:24, UK
The definition of 'defy' is an action of such a kind or nature that is almost impossible. For many, Hull KR beating Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Challenge would be such an action.
Every contest, every match, every competition has it's favourite. The statistics, odds, and probabilities all point in one direction.
However, sport is one of the very few spaces where an individual or group of people gets to rip those up those preconceived ideas of how something is supposed to go. They get to defy.
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When Hull KR take to the field on Thursday February 19 at 7.30pm, live on Sky Sports, they will know they are 80 minutes away from ripping up the script. They are 80 minutes from saying 'you might be the NRL, but we are Super League'. They are 80 minutes from saying they are world champions.
Super League was born of grit, determination, desire. Hull KR have to encompass all three to claim victory.
The context of this contest is paramount. Brisbane Broncos are the all-conquering NRL champions in Australia's top sport. Hull KR are the all-conquering Super League champions in a sport that is constantly pushing to gain more eyes.
Brisbane are the Premier League champions of Australia, to put it in football terms, which is a daunting prospect for many.
The perception has always been that Super League is fighting to keep up with the talent in the NRL. The recent 3-0 drubbing in the Ashes will not have helped that motion either as the Kangaroos came out on top in every single Test while England were flailing without answers.
However, this match is one in which little old Super League knows how to come up trumps.
Who can forget the 2001 World Club Challenge when St Helens beat a Brisbane side that featured the legendary Darren Lockyer and Eddie Hemmings' commentary when the star man knocked on during the 20-18 clash. Hemmings cried "he is human" and the rest is history.
More recently, one of the greatest NRL sides of all-time, the four-time-in-a-row NRL premier Penrith Panthers, lost to St Helens on home soil then travelled to England where they were beaten by Wigan.
They might be one of the greatest teams of all time. But one of the greatest teams of all time got beaten by two of Super League's best of all time in dramatic circumstances too.
Lewis Dodd wrote himself into rugby league folklore with his golden point drop goal to win the World Club Challenge for the Saints. Wigan's Jai Field had to come up with two mesmerising try-saving tackles to keep his side in front.
No one can ever take that away from either of those sides. They showed just why they were the Super League's best and they were not to be underestimated.
Hull KR showed they were not to be underestimated when they joined the upper echelons of the competition with their historic treble in 2025. With their Grand Final victory, they became only the fifth side in Super League history to win it. Yes, you read that correctly.
They were the first new winner since 2004 and with it, they sent a ripple to the sport in this country that change was not just coming, it had firmly arrived and now, they want to show they are here to stay.
Well, what a way to show you are here to stay than to defeat the Broncos. What a way to show you are here to stay than to head to Las Vegas with that trophy in your hands. What a way to show you are here to stay than to make it three times in a row that the NRL have gone back from this match empty handed.
That is the task for Hull KR. Now, it is down to them to put in a performance that is of a nature which many believe is close to impossible.
They have defied before. It is time for them to defy again.
How can I watch?
The World Club Challenge is live from 7pm on Thursday February 19 on Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports+.
The match then kicks-off at 7.30pm.
2026 Super League - key dates and what to look out for
- World Club Challenge: Thu Feb 19: Hull KR vs Brisbane Broncos, 7:30pm (Sky Sports)
- Rugby League in Las Vegas: Sat Feb 28: Hull KR vs Leeds Rhinos, 11.30pm (Sky Sports)
- Super League's 30th birthday: Thu Mar 26: Castleford Tigers vs Bradford Bulls, 8pm (Sky Sports)
- Rivals Round: April 3-April 5
- Super League in Paris: Sat Jun 6: Catalans Dragons vs Wigan Warriors (Paris), 6:30 UK (Sky Sports)
- Magic Weekend: July 4-July 5
- Rivals Round reversed: July 23-July 26
- Elimination Play-offs: September 19-September 20
- Play-off semi-finals: September 26-September 27
- Grand Final: October 3, Old Trafford.
Sky Sports will again show every game of the Super League live this season - including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining five matches each week shown on Sky Sports+
