Wigan stunned Penrith to scored the first try with Lebanese international winger Abbas Miski crossing out wide, but the visitors have struck back.
The Panthers lead 6-4 after 30 minutes.
MATCH CENTRE: Wigan vs Panthers teams, scores, stats, videos
The Warriors made a mistake on just the second tackle of the game when Willie Isa coughed up the play-the-ball and it ignited a push and shove inside the first minute.
But the Panthers couldn’t make the most of it with young No. 6 being tackled with the ball on the fifth tackle.
The visitors looked out of sorts in attack early and were caught on the fifth tackle while attacking the Warriors’ line three times in the opening 20 minutes.
But cometh of the moment, cometh the man and it was Nathan Cleary who scored in the 27th minute and he then booted the conversion to take the lead.
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MATCH PREVIEW
The Penrith Panthers are aiming to cap off their NRL premiership three-peat with a World Club Challenge win over Wigan at DW Stadium.
The clash kicks off at 7.00am AEST on Sunday Morning with the Panthers aiming to avenge their 13-12 loss to St Helens on Australian soil last year.
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The Panthers are yet to taste World Club Challenge success during their dynasty after the 2022 fixture was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Nathan Cleary and his side will aim for some unfinished business as they look to add the last piece to their bulging trophy cabinet.
Wigan present another tough challenge and will be buoyed by St Helens’ performance last year given they will be on home soil in the UK in 2024.
The Panthers have never won a World Club Challenge in their history with Wigan beating them in 1991 and Bradford in 2004.
The Panthers get one last chance to test themselves before their season opener against the Storm on March 8.
SQUADS
Wigan team: 1. Jai Field 2. Abbas Miski 3. Adam Keighran 4. Jake Wardle 5. Liam Marshall 6. Bevan French 7. Harry Smith 9. Brad O’Neill 10. Liam Byrne 11. Willie Isa 12. Liam Farrell 13. Kaide Ellis 14. Mike Cooper 15. Patrick Mago 17. Kruise Leeming 19. Tyler Dupree 20. Harvie Hill 23. Ryan Hampshire 24. Tiaki Chan 26. Zach Eckersley 27. Tom Forber
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Taylan May 5. Brian To’o 6. Jack Cole 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Matt Eisenhuth 19. Brad Schneider 20. Mavrik Geyer 21. Daine Laurie 23. Soni Luke
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