It took place on 16 February 2018, and featured Super League champions Leeds Rhinos, and NRL winners Melbourne Storm.

[5] In addition, the 2017 Rugby League World Cup being played in Australia at the end of 2017, meant that the preseason for Australian teams was going to be unusually short ahead of the 2018 season and therefore they did not want to make the trip to England for the 2018 series.

[6] In addition and as part of this trip to Australia, Wigan and Hull would play two exhibition games against South Sydney Rabbitohs and St George Illawarra Dragons respectively.

[7] Leeds finished Super League XXII's regular season in 2nd place and went on to defeat 1st-placed Castleford Tigers, 24–6, in the grand final, qualifying the Rhinos for their 8th World Club Challenge.

[citation needed] The Storm finished the 2017 NRL season in 1st place and won the Minor premiership.