The rugby league World Club challenge has to be the ultimate test for any NRL team. I say the ultimate test because in the NRL Grand Final, at least teams have form on their side going into the match.
When Manly lines up against the Leeds Rhinos at the beginning of next month, it will be almost five months since they defeated Melbourne 40-0.
The WCC is usually played in bitterly cold temperatures in a cauldron of British patriotism. The Super League brand means entertainment and colour.
In the past it’s been a lavish pre-match pyrotechnic show followed by a countdown clock to get the crowd pumped and arouse the players for the first big hit-ups.
The problem for Australian clubs is obvious: they must jolt themselves out of their off-season mode; they must acclimatise to the conditions; and they must play against a team who already has a couple of Super League matches under their belt.
It’s little wonder that an Australian club has not won since 2003, when the Roosters demolished St Helens.
Manly is determined to deny another English victory.
They are already in England training hard to acclimatise, despite the match being a fortnight away. Manly has also scheduled a practice match against London club Harlequins in an effort to find that Grand Final winning form.
However, despite all the pre-match preparation, history shows the Super League style of play tends to catch Australian players off-guard. English teams play the ball so quickly once tackled and then are so disciplined at running from dummy-half to churn up the metres, almost akin to touch football.
It’s smart because the Australian forwards don’t have a chance to set themselves to make the big hits and offside penalties are always on the cards.
Matt Orford’s kicking game will be challenged by the tiny in-goal areas at Elland Road, which are at least half the size of Australian grounds and makes stopping the ball almost mission impossible.
And catching a high bomb in swirling winds may just make Brett Stewart look as inadequate as Manu Vatuvei.
In saying that, I think the World Club Challenge is a great concept and is played in the right country and the right time of the year. The atmosphere is electric and, despite their obvious bias, the English commentators inject further passion into the game (I’d prefer Mike Stephenson to Phil Gould any day).
The good news for Manly is that an Australian referee is once again in charge. Leeds have appointed Jason Robinson to officiate the match.
However, he will no doubt be under pressure to adopt the Super League mantra of ultra fast play.
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