| Rugby League History - The World Club Challenge |
The World Club Challenge is yet another major Rugby League competition that is poorly run and therefor lacks the prestige it should have.
Played between the previous seasons National Rugby League and Rugby Super League Champions, the World Club Challenge is promoted by some as a world club championship.
Once a true test between the two best club sides in the world, the current timing of the fixture means that it is usually played a week before the Super League season starts and before ANY NRL trial games have even begun. This leads to a lack of preparation, a lack of buildup and at the end of the day takes a great concept and turn it into little more than an exhibition game.
The 1997 Super League World Club Challenge
In 1997 an expanded World Club Challenge competition was set up which put Australian Super League clubs against European Super League clubs. The 22 club competition was nothing short of a disaster as English clubs were thoroughly outclassed, winning just 8 of 83 games played.
The uneven playing field saw the competition format changed mid was through as it become apparent that the final may have been contested between an unbeaten Australian club and an English club who had been unable to beat and opponent.
In the end the Brisbane Broncos beat fellow Australian Super League side the Hunter Mariners in a competition that was a financial disaster losing over $6,000,000.
False Glory
Since its reintroduction in the year 2000 the World Club Challenge has been little more than an exhibition game played as a curtain raiser to the Super League season.
With the competing NRL clubs having to break their pre-season training and forgo any trial games as they head to the UK for the contest, the World Club Challenge is seen more as a nusense to Australian clubs.
Super League clubs meanwhile see it as a great lead in to the Super League season and any chance to claim a world title of any kind is seen as a great boost for the British game.
While few would argue that the Australian clubs are much stronger than their Super League opponents, the timing, lack of match fitness, travel and break in pre season preparation is more than enough to tip the scales of fairness towards Rugby Super League sides.
This has not stopped British clubs and fans however promoting themselves as true world champions after winning the title.
World Club Challenge Winners
1976 - Eastern Suburbs d. St Helens RFC 25 - 2 Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney - 26,865
1987 - Wigan d. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 8 - 2 - Central Park, Wigan - 36,895
1989 - Widnes d. Canberra Raiders 30-18 - Old Trafford, Manchester - 30,786
1991 - Wigan d. Penrith Panthers 21 - 4 - Anfield, Liverpool - 20,152
1992 - Brisbane Broncos d. Wigan 22 - 8 - Central Park, Wigan - 17,460
1994 - Wigan d. Brisbane Broncos 20 - 14 - ANZ Stadium , Brisbane - 54,220
1997 - Brisbane Broncos d. Hunter Mariners 36 - 12 - Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland - 12,000
2000 - Melbourne Storm d. St Helens RFC 44 - 6 - JJB Stadium, Wigan - 13,394
2001 - St Helens RFC d. Brisbane Broncos 20 - 18 - Reebok Stadium, Bolton - 16,041
2002 - Bradford Bulls d. Newcastle Knights 41 - 26 - McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield - 21,113
2003 - Sydney Roosters d. St Helens RFC 38 - 0 - Reebok Stadium, Bolton - 19,807
2004 - Bradford Bulls d. Penrith Panthers 22 - 4 - McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield - 18,962
2005 - Leeds Rhinos d. Canterbury Bulldogs 39 - 32 - Elland Road, Leeds - 37,208
2006 - Bradford Bulls d. Wests Tigers 30 - 10 - Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield - 19,207
2007 - St Helens d. Brisbane Broncos - 18 - 14 - Reebok Stadium, Bolton - 23,207
League Freaks Thoughts And Opinions
Like most fans, I am sick of the pathetic format the current World Club Challenge is played under. I want a true contest between the best clubs from the NRL and Super League.
I would like to see the World Club Challenge played two weeks after the NRL and Super League Grand Finals (Which I would like to see played on the same weekend). The game would be played at the home ground of the club that won the highest percentage of their games during their respective regular seasons.
You would be guaranteed to sell out the home stadium of either club as fans wanted to see their newly crowned Grand Final winners claim a true world title.
Both teams would be at peak fitness and both teams would have their current Grand Final winning sides to choose from.
A great idea.....maybe a bit too perfect for the administrators of this game to act upon!
My favorite World Club Challenge memories are of the great Wigan sides of the early to mid 90's who were by far and away the best teams in the world at the time. When Wigan would come to Australia to play our clubs it was a true juggernaut of the game coming to teach Australia how the game should be played.
To read the latest Rugby League World Club Challenge articles posted on the website Click Here
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