There are only 38 more days until the annual World Club Challenge. As is the case every year, like clockwork, haters come out of the woodwork.
Some will tell you it means nothing. An event played in England for the English. A game where the National Rugby League premiers lob up in holiday mode and jog around for 80 minutes with both eyes squarely on the new NRL season.
Give me a break!
Playing in the World Club Challenge is a privilege, not a chore. Granted some Australian teams haven’t taken it seriously in the past. Some have taken weakened sides and paid the price.
But history suggests that the majority of teams that respected the concept and have taken strong squads have been rewarded by either winning the trophy or returning to Australia hardened for the season ahead.
Those sides who rested players or didn’t take it seriously have returned and spluttered through the following NRL season.
If you are going to blame this event for a lacklustre start to your team’s NRL season, then give it credit for strengthening a team’s resolve, too.
In 2003 the Sydney Roosters destroyed St Helens 38-0. Brad Fittler’s men would make it all the way to the 2004 NRL decider before falling to the Canterbury Bulldogs.
The following three seasons saw the Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers and Wests Tigers take weakened teams across and get flogged.
These sides didn’t struggle in the following NRL season because they had to travel to the United Kingdom. They struggled because the NRL is the toughest competition of any sport on this planet.
Brisbane Broncos and the Melbourne Storm took their matches seriously in 2007 and 2008 respectively and narrowly lost classic battles to their opposition.
What was there excuse? NRL sides won the next three WCC matches, by the way.
English fans watch the NRL just as intently as they watch the Super League. Once a year, they get to the see our champions.
We need to realise that this annual clash has a special part to play on the rugby league calendar and not something teams “have to do”.
Like it or not, this sport we love isn’t just played in Australia by Australians.
If Super League fans are going to continue forking out their own hard earned to see our NRL premiers, we need to keep playing this game.
On February 22 the Leeds Rhinos will host the Melbourne Storm. The fire has been lit for yet another brutal WCC with Golden Boot winner Kevin Sinfield taking a shot at all Aussies.
“The Australians probably think the NRL competition is far superior to Super League,” Sinfield told BBC Sport.
“Whether they rate me or not I am not sure, but with a lot of the Australians they rate themselves very highly.
“I am not bothered or interested in what they say. If they want to have a crack then they can fire away.”
Ask and you shall receive, pal. It might mean nothing to you, but it means plenty to a lot of other people.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Same venue each year?Not acording to the following listed venues. 2001 Reebook Stadium Bolton 2002 Mcalpine stadium Huddersfield 2003 Reebok Stadium 2004 Mcalpine stadium 2005 Elland rd Leeds 2006 Galpharm stadium Huddersfield 2007 Reebok stadium 2008/9/10 Elland Road Leeds 2011 DW Stadium Wigan 2012 Headingley stadium Leeds 2013 Headingley stadium Perhaps you meant country.Revenue to date has been maximised ,by the use of these venues,both clubs benefitting and I doubt the ESL gets that much out of it,to keep it afloat.FHS.A sound commercial decision to date.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Please provide the source Jaceman where it states the WCC is put on to keep the English league floating.I am interested.I would have thought the clubs involved are the recipients of the monies received by ticket sales etc. The Sky Tv deal keeps the code floating. Anycase interested in your source.
Jaceman
Guest
One day they will play in Australia - its a game put on to keep the English League floating as the English team would get flogged if it came here - what code in the world has it in the same venue each year....
Peter T
Guest
Even the Game plan on channel one had a chance to devote 5 to 10 minutes to the international game with some research but they never look at the big picture. Late last year I went to see Lebanon Vs Cook islands with my son. All afternoon the continous call time did not even mention the event. Around 2000 people were there that day. It was another miss opportunity to promote the game.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
Well said sir.
Hobbsy
Guest
Great article and well written. I love watching the club challenge and get up to do it. I would love to see more SL games on TV here as not all of us can afford Foxtel to watch them. The football shows, yes even the "footy" show, should show whats going on in the UK and in the world. People forget that there is a whole world out there and alot of countries are playing the greatest game, we should be talking up that not bagging a great concept like the WCC. bring it on I say..............I think Leeds will go well. The game does not mean diddly squat, it is a great concept, something other codes would love to have. I love watching the different styles of play, defence versus a more attacking game. Will be a cracker as always.
Tom
Guest
With Sinfield being the golden boot winner and his claims that us Australians rate ourselves it will sure be a heated game this year.
The Bird
Guest
Deep man.. deep.
Mushi
Guest
So we can hate the haters but not what the haters hate?
Anakin
Guest
So the team that has played more games than most all season, and has ceremoniously won the Grand Final (both a physically & mentally challenging exercise) is subsequently told they need to keep training - and postpone their off season holiday (and in some cases extend the wait to get off-season surgery which will subsequenrly impact on their return to the ensung NRL season) - so they can play this game??? It's a tough call the next year, as it sits now, because the two teams playing off could arguably only be playing with 75%, or potentially less, of the roster that won the previous seasons premiership because of player movements etc; in some cases that could possibly mean losing their incumbent star player from the match; you think SBW would hang around for a WCC clash?? What does the result then prove - nothing - just as most trial games (even when teams field the majority if not all of their top side) mean nothing in relation to success during the season. Admit it, it's an exhibition match, that promotes the game in the northern hemisphere, with a result that means diddly squat.
Anakin
Guest
Beg to differ Will - Storm v Leeds in Melbourne would get better crowds than half the Sydeny clubs get during an NRL season; lets not forget half the games in sydney the two competing teams "share" the crowd support. Melbourne Crowds are 99% Melbourne supporters.
Will Sinclair
Guest
That's true. And one argument for playing the game in the UK is that it gets a good crowd over there. You can imagine the size of the crowd in Melbourne for Storm v Leeds! Bellamy would be able to thank them all by name.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
Granted there is a problem with the timing. But I am sure Melbourne are over it.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
I don't think we should be removing any game that has a "big match feel". Even if it is an exhibition match to some degree.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
You could have a sleep over?
Curtis Woodward
Expert
Definetely a good Rhinos team. Will be very tight.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
Those Wigan/Broncos games were fierce!
Curtis Woodward
Expert
Nothing in any state is perfect. But just because it isn't perfect doesn't mean you can't support it.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
How do you think the English side would go if it was thier first match of the season in Australia after the Storm has had 2 or 3 games of NRL ?
KSI
Guest
I said on the other post. I love the concept but it should be played a couple of weeks after the GF in which ever country is holding the International season. That way the actual teams that won their GF's are the ones that play not teams that have lost and gained different players. Also you don't have one team 3 games into a full season and the other who may have played one trial game.