The schedule for next year’s rugby league World Club Series has been released, with the Cronulla Sharks to take on the Wigan Warriors and the Brisbane Broncos matched up with the Warrington Wolves.
The main event pits the Sharks up against Super League champions Wigan and will take place at 3pm Sunday February 19 at Wigan’s DW Stadium. The other fixture will see the Broncos taking on the Wolves on Saturday February 18 at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The Sharks, who won their first ever premiership with a 14-12 victory over Melbourne earlier in the month, will be hoping to add another trophy to their cabinet. Wigan defeated local rivals Warrington 12-6, their fourth win in Super League history.
The legitimacy of the tournament had been in some doubt after last week’s announcement by Melbourne that they would not take part in the contest due to concerns surrounding fatigue. However Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett – who is currently in the UK preparing his England troops for the Four Nations tournament – indicated he would take the Broncos to England in place of the Storm.
The World Club Series – which took over from the decades-old World Club Challenge – has been running for three years, with the NRL and Super League grand final winners facing off alongside two other essentially exhibition matches. This year, only two matches were scheduled, although with the Storm’s withdrawal there was a real danger that the tournament would not be able to go ahead.
The 2015 and 2016 World Club Series winners have both come from the NRL, with the Rabbitohs and Cowboys running up big victories over their English rivals. The past ten years have been relatively successful for the Australian sides, with seven of the ten matches going the NRL’s way.
Prior to that the tournament had been more evenly matched, reflecting the English sides’ home field advantage.
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan told NRL.com that his side was not concerned about the potential fatigue factor associated with appearing in the tournament, and that the Sharks would be honoured to make the trip.
“To have the chance to play over in the UK, for a World Club Championship, is a great opportunity and one that our club is really looking forward to,” Flanagan said.
“Then add to that the challenge of playing Wigan, one of the strongest and most famous clubs in the Super League and it will definitely be an outstanding experience.”
In the NRL era, no Australian team has ever managed to back up from a World Club Challenge win to take out the NRL title.
Long Black
Roar Rookie
"the Storm will play the depleted broncos in Melbourne during SOO time again" I felt that the Storm's home ground draw this year was pretty ordinary from a fan's perspective. Round 1 - Storm v Dragons, AAMI Park - Monday 7 March, 7pm - Monday night game, hard to get to. Round 2 - Storm v Titans, AAMI Park - Sunday 13 March, 6:30pm - 6:30pm on a Sunday was billed as family day, didn't really finish at a family friendly time Round 5 - Storm v Knights, AAMI Park - Saturday 2 April, 3pm - bottom four team Round 6 - Storm v Bulldogs, AAMI Park - Monday 11 April, 7pm - Monday night game, hard to get to. Round 8 - Storm v Warriors, AAMI Park - Monday 25 April, 7pm - Monday night game, hard to get to. Round 13 - Storm v Panthers, AAMI Park, Saturday 4 June, 7:30pm - Origin players out Round 16 - Storm v Tigers, AAMI Park, Sunday 26 June, 4pm - bottom four team Round 20 - Storm v Roosters, AAMI Park, Saturday 23 July, 7:30pm - bottom four team Round 22 - Storm v Rabbitohs, AAMI Park - TBA Round 25 - Storm v Broncos, AAMI Park - TBA Round 26 - Storm v Sharks, AAMI Park - TBA I attended the last 5 games of the year at AAMI park and they were all 15K plus attendances, great atmosphere and great games. Maybe I'm whinging a little but I don't believe Storm supporters in Melbourne received a great draw.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I'm not a fan. Feels like a knock off of the NBAs where amazing happens. Not to say they didn't knock that off of somebodies where some pretty good stuff happens Tagline.
Mals
Guest
Shock horror the Sharks could add another cup to their trophy cabinet ;-)
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
And thirteen other teams too... The argument that the World Club Series is the reason why NRL teams don't win premierships is a disingenuous one. There are a lot more reasons why a club doesn't win a premiership and it is disappointing when articles like this one close with the obligatory negative. An original thought would be most appreciated when discussing anything, let alone rugby league.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Its a great promotion isnt it? i like the whole History Happens things, really catchy...
Squidward
Roar Rookie
As they should be rewarded. And I'm far from a broncos fan
Squidward
Roar Rookie
#HistoryHappens
Bruce
Guest
Broncos stood up when others declined so will be rewarded - look closely at the NRL draw next year although undoubtedly the Storm will play the depleted broncos in Melbourne during SOO time again. No discussion about where the second Qld home game for SOO will be next year but it wont be in Brisbane.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
The NRL already have put one through the Sharks , they've had their fairytale, now get to the back of the line.
Aaron
Guest
That's a shame. Put a line through both the broncos and sharks for the premiership next year.
Phill L
Guest
This is going to annoy crosscoder "why is this in the rugby section? Answer NRL needs to promote rugby league in stralia????