The nature of the World Club Challenge for the Australian teams was summed up by the commentators during last year’s match.
“Conditions here not getting any better. A bit of rain in the air now, wing blowing down the field, and the pitch, it has to be said heavy to start with, is getting heavier still. It could prove a little draining for the undercooked Manly Sea Eagles”.
Says it all really.
To the dreadful weather and under-preparedness of our teams, add the chanting of the all-English crowd and the biased commentary of Sky Sport’s Eddie Hemmings and Mike ‘Stevo’ Stephenson.
Consequently, there are many of us who can’t take these matches seriously.
However, I’m not one of them. I find these contests played in the early hours irresistible.
The NRL team is representing Australia and even if they’re my own side’s grand final conqueror, like Manly in 2009, I find myself willing them on.
It’s my team this time and I’ll be up at 6.45am (it’s a rare treat to see a Storm game live) on Saturday revelling in the alien and intimidating atmosphere they’ve been flung into.
It’s the unfairness of it all that makes these games such close and compelling.contests.
Competing in their first serious match in four months, in the freezing cold of Headingley, the Storm will not play like the best team in the world which is what the NRL premier is.
You would assume that if the Leeds Rhinos (despite being a superior Super League team containing several experienced internationals) were forced to face a match-hardened Melbourne in the summer sunshine at AAMI Park the result would not be pretty.
The temperature in London last week was 30°C less than in Melbourne but that wasn’t the only reason the Storm knew they had landed in England. The bus driver who was to take them from the airport to the hotel for a much-needed recovery session had slept in, forcing them to stand about drinking coffee while a fleet of taxi cabs was organised.
Unfortunately for the Storm, Leeds will not be so lackadaisical. Quite the opposite, in fact. The English teams take this game very seriously.
Leeds’ coach Brian McDermott is treating it like a grand final: “It’s a huge thing. It’s not lost on us how big a thing this is”.
If the Storm can win playing in the northern England mist in front of the deafening Rhinos’ supporters it’s a victory worth savouring.
The biased (but not disrespectful) commentary can get a little trying, as can the insistence by Mike Stephenson (I think) on referring to a try as a “T-R-Y” and worse, a no try as a “N-O T-R-Y”!
Of course, the fact that it’s played in England is more our fault than theirs as the WCC concept lacks support in Australia. Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield said he would rather play in Melbourne than on his home ground.
Nor are the English under the illusion that their league is the equal of the NRL but if their champion team can beat ours, whatever the location and conditions – then I suppose they have the right to call themselves the world champion team.
The World Club Challenge is returning to Australia next year. It just won’t be the same being played during the day in the sunshine.
I also fear it will be a non contest.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
I think if the fans want it from both countries, why not? However, if the competition is to continue, I would like to see a more appropriate name -- after all the notion of State of Origin is a big selling point for the league faithful. Rather than World Club Championship, I would suggest something like Eastern States of Australia versus One or Two Northern Counties of England Club Championship -- but I'm sure other readers would have better ideas.
Brett Mackie
Guest
The pommie commentators are embarrassing. They are so biased and they never shut up. My god! Shut the F&^% up. Catch your breath and enjoy the skills of these great teams. They are sublime but they would never know ... shut up!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Gripping game ,full house,I say no more.
Football United
Guest
I wish it was a two legged game, like the play offs from the English rugby championship to the premiership (yes i know it's not League!) play one match in england and one in aus, highest aggregate score wins and you have a even contest and exposure in both countries.
Nathan Beuman
Roar Guru
I love the World Club Challenge. I love the idea of being able to say you are the best team in the world. They however need to figure out a way to bring it out to Australia on alternative years if they want to be serious about it. Ridiculous England should get it every year. Still a great concept. I would rather it be in England then to completely get rid of it.
Matt_S
Guest
Can't wait for tomorrow morning. What more can you ask, the two best clubs in their respective comps playing in one of the great traditional theatres of rugby league-Headingly. The terraces will be rocking, and those Victorian born supporters who watch this game or are lucky to attend, will see what it's like to play against a club with a home ground of 100 odd years. Leeds is one of the great rugby league clubs. The winners will be presented by an Olympic gold medalist and Rhinos fan.
Phelpsy
Guest
It interests me that done people state that it is meaningless and could injure players . Well I guess meaningless is subjective , but why us it seen by some as okay to have players play rep games like SOO and risk getting injured, mid season at that, and also miss games for their club, and games like this on an international stage are not okay. As a Melbourne supporter sOO is just as meaningless to me as this game.
Straya mate
Guest
I agree completely with this piece, the WCC is as much a piece of the season as the all stars game, however, I think the Aussie teams can be accused of underestimating their English counterparts at times, the NRL media in Australia always slates the super league, it doesn't matter if Leeds have any internationals, fail to prepare, prepare to fail. The storm are completely out of their comfort zone, They have one eye on the start of the season, Leeds are already up and running, I have no doubt in my mind the result would be a cricket score if played in September but this is England, the English believe if they win one tournament they've won them all, Soccer WC 1966, Rugby WC 2003, every Olympic event they once won gold in, etc etc, there's bragging rights up for grabs tomorrow, and IF Leeds win, expect their ego's to explode.
sledgeross
Guest
There has been talk of expanding teh concept slightly in the future to feature more teams. I always enjoy it as Im a Rhinos fan and I enjoy seeing them compete with teams that are successful, but I despise (Manly, Dragons, Storm). People denigrating the game should remember that Leeds are a big match team, as evidenced by the fact that they win comps without finishing first!
Jeff Cook
Guest
Thanks Andrew You got the debate fired up again . I will repeat myself the game is a challenge by the winners of the SL to NRL champs . Nowhere is said the NRL side HAS to accept the challenge . A polite no thank you , and the club continues it`normal pre season. Say yes ! and the club gets to play a top quility side as their last strike out before the season.And if the NRL side does it right they pick up a nice trophy with fat pay check as the Dragons did in 2011.
Hobbsy
Guest
I love the concept and will be up to watch it. It is a shame the Euopean game is not shown on free to air here in Qld. I hope Leeds do well and whoever wins, i will be happy with that. It is a great game and well worth it.
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
Good to hear from a Leeds supporter, @joycinho. Yes Melbourne will definitely want to win as Bellamy loathes losing. Be a good sport and give the Storm at least one cheer during the game!
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
I'll be watching. 6 am (Qld time) is the perfect time for it to be on really, the missus will still be in bed so I can watch it in peace. Can you really have an "intense meaningless" match? Sounds like an oxymoron to me
Rob
Guest
What about NRL winners, Super League winners and then a "Rest of the World" team. Or even Australia, NZ, England and Rest of the World test series? I dont know what traction it would get, but may be a semi-decent concept???
pennypanther
Roar Rookie
All that this needs to kick off in Australia is for it to be played here. Expand to 3 or 4 clubs from each competition. Internationals generally start a month after the end of the NRL grand Final, so play it two weeks after the NRL grand final in the country that the Internationals will be played in. So if the 4 nations is played in Australia that year, the 3-4 super league clubs will come out here after their GF, the bulk of the English team is generally made up of the top teams anyway, so they can just stay out here. Also the teams will not be underdone, they have time to celebrate their respective premierships and they are the true players that played in the GF. Give it time to build, sponsors, tv and fans will slowly get behind it. In 20 years time it shoud be huge! It also needs a ridiculously big trophy. Lets do it before super rugby does it, I believe they could do it really really well, they could have teams from Ireland, England, france, nz, aus and sa, so lets get in first!!
JonD
Guest
I couldn't care less about this match. It's on in hours of the morning that I won't watch, it's before the regular season has started and it is meaningless. If I was a Melbourne supprter I'd hate havng my team fly across the world to play an intense meaningless match before the start of the season while everyone else is warmin up. The only good reason for it is that England loves it. So maybe it is good for promoting Rugby League over there. Also I think the winning team gets money. Not sure how much though, but that could be useful for the storm.
@joycinho
Guest
At the end of the day its a one off international - club game of Rugby League - just enjoy it - it's a great sport to watch.... Am a Leeds fan and am off to the game I have a ticket. There's a buzz over hear about it. We know that the concept massively favours us but the event has to start somewhere and generally now the British sides are getting stronger and I don't see why we can't try to expand it and play one in Australia... I think our sides are stronger than you think.... And if the Aussie media really believe Super League is rubbish then do you think the NRL champions will want the embarrassment of losing? Of course the Melbourne players will take it seriously - they may be in pre season but they are professionals and a team of winners - that's why they are champions. They will take it seriously believe me. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
planko
Roar Guru
Not sure why I got reposted. I am looking forward to real comp.... SBW .... OMG new one for him NTG (not that good)
planko
Roar Guru
Andrew I am not a greedy person just one injury would be fine. All three that is just greedy.
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
planko, I think the rest of the comp would want the Storm to beat Leeds first and then for Smith, Slater and Cronk to injure themselves badly in the warm down perhaps.