Panthers’ brutal injury blow in bid to secure first World Club Challenge

The Panthers have been dealt a brutal pre-season blow with a key forward set to be ruled out of the World Club Challenge.

The reigning premiers will take on Super League heavyweights St Helens on February 18 and could be without gun backrower Liam Martin according to The Daily Telegraph.

The 25-year-old representative player has reportedly suffered an AC join injury following a wrestling session earlier in the week.

The Telegraph is reporting that coach Ivan Cleary will take a cautious approach to injuries heading into the NRL’s pre-season challenge.

Cleary is set to leave any player with any injury concerns out of his teams for Penrith’s games against Parramatta and St Helens.

The Panthers could now be without both of their starting backrowers from the 2022 season following Viliame Kikau’s departure.

However, two recruits now both have a chance to prove their worth to their new coach, with both Luke Garner and Zac Hosking joining the back-to-back premiers in the off-season.

Martin’s injury is a huge blow in the Panthers bid to win their first World Club Challenge, having lost the annual clash in 1991 and 2004 to Wigan and Bradford respectively.

Penrith were also unable to take part in the World Club Challenge due to Covid in 2021.

Martin’s injury comes only a day after he signed a one-year extension to remain at the foot of the mountain until the end of 2024.