The rise of Abbas Miski – Championship to World Champion

Wigan Warriors winger Abbas Miski stars in World Club Challenge.

From making his senior debut at Manly Sea Eagles in 2019, to scoring in the World Club Challenge and becoming a World Champion in 2024 with the Wigan Warriors, following their 16-12 victory over the Penrith Panthers on Saturday night. It has been an amazing few years for the winger who was born in Penrith, Australia.

Miski started his professional Rugby League career with the Eagles in the NRL in 2019, making just six appearances scoring two tries, before heading to the UK in 2020 to join the London Broncos for the 2021 Betfred Championship season. During the season he showed his prolific try scoring ability we have seen during his time at Wigan Warriors with 18 tries in 21 Championship games.

2022 saw the Warriors come calling for the Lebanon International, with some fans questioning the signing, but following his debut against Toulouse Olympique and ending the 2022 season with eight tries in nine appearances he has gone on to prove all his doubters wrong.

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In 2023 Miski spent some time out on loan, before being called back into the first team picture due to the team suffering with injuries. The winger then cemented his spot in the starting 13, finishing the season with 29 tries in 26 games in all competitions, finishing as top try scorer for the Cherry and Whites and in the Betfred Super League. Helping the team to lift both the League Leaders Shield and the Super League Trophy.

His biggest challenge on the pitch came on Saturday night, with the three-peat NRL champions, the Penrith Panthers, visiting a sold out DW Stadium in the hope of winning their first ever World Club Challenge. But it wasn’t to be for Ivan Cleary’s side who suffered their second consecutive World Club Challenge defeat following their loss to St Helens last year. The fireworks on the field began in the first minute with both sides having to be separated and ended on the final hooter.

Having been forced to defend their own line in the opening minutes, the hosts scored against the run of play. A touch from the Panthers handed Wigan a repeat set and they took full advantage. A sublime cut-out pass from Bevan French found Miski who gave Wigan the perfect start. But the Panthers hit back through Nathan Cleary with Miski unable to take a high kick.

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After falling behind, in just their second opportunity at the Panthers line, the Cherry and Whites scored the try of the match. Adam Keighran sent Miski away down the line with a brilliant offload, he fed Willie Isa on his inside before Kruise Leeming dove over to regain the lead. However, the scoring in the first half didn’t finish there. In the dying moments Cleary again showed his class dragging his team around the field, the ball back inside to Dylan Edwards allowed the full-back to dive between two Wigan defenders to hand the Australian side a 12-10 lead heading into the break.

The second half continued as the first ended, with Penrith putting the Wigan defensive line under pressure, but as it did all game, the defence stood firm with an unbelievable try saving tackle from

Jai Field the standout from an excellent defensive display from Matt Peet’s side. His side were rewarded for the hard work, when Jake Wardle latched onto a neat kick through from Harry Smith to wrestle his way over the line, however after consulting the Video referee, the try was awarded leaving the entirety of the Rugby League community in shock.

With the clock approaching the 79th minute, the NRL three-peat champions had one last chance to score, starting the set 20 metres out from the Warriors line. The hooter sounded as they switched the ball from right to left giving Taylan May an opportunity to dive over in the corner, but another try saving tackle appeared to have stopped the winger. The Video referee was called upon one again. Referee Liam Moore sent the try up to the screen as a No Try, and after a nerve wracking couple of minutes for both sides, the try was refused handing Wigan a 16-12 victory and an record-equalling fifth World Club Challenge trophy. An unbelievable finish to a fantastic game.