WCC
Leeds Rhinos 11 d. Melbourne Storm 4

2008 World Club Challenge Index [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: International > Other > First Grade Competition: World Club Challenge

Hetherington: Leeds Rhinos "the world's best Rugby League team"
Sat March 1, 2008
Leeds CEO Gary Hetherington has made the claim of the year so far, dubbing his World Club Challenge winning side "undisputedly, the world's best Rugby League team" after Rhino's 11-4 victory of NRL champions the Melbourne Storm at Elland Road today.

It appears as though the gauntlet has been thrown down by Hetherington on behalf of the English Super League after yet another victory to the northern hemisphere champions in February.

In abominable weather conditions, Leeds got home on the back of Kevin Sinfield's boot, with the skipper sealing the deal with a field goal 9 minutes from full time after landing 3 goals during the match to keep the Storm out of reach. More match details can be found here.

Personally, I don't think it's so completely outlandish to make the suggestion Hetherington has made.

The gulf between the have's and the have not's in the ESL is virtually chasm-like. The competition is heavily top-loaded and with a Salary Cap that exceeds the NRL's, it is not unrealistic to think that the ESL could manage to assemble at least one side in any given year that would match the best the NRL has to offer. But this is a false representation of the realtive strengths of the competitions so whilst the claim is a nice one to make, it's pretty hollow in the scheme of things.

Just don't tell that to Leeds fans and Gary Hetherington.

Tell us what you think

So, is the Leeds boss on the money? After all, the UK teams have dominated this contest.

Are fans of the Aussie code just whinging when citing the odds stacked against the travelling NRL champions? The Roosters took the game incredibly seriously and prepared as such in 2003. The result was an emphatic 38-0 win to the NRL champions.

Does a 33,000+ crowd justify the continued playing of the match in the Northern Hemisphere? Would an Australian match draw a crowd of more than 20,000, let alone 30,000?

Feel free to have "Your Say" below.


Sinfield's boot the difference as Rhinos grind out Storm
Sat March 1, 2008
In front of an excellent crowd of 33,204 the Leeds Rhinos edged out the Melbourne Storm in tough conditions to take out the World Club Challenge 11-4 at Elland Road.

The match turned into a tough struggle as the Rhinos with four solid Super League matches behind them were more accustomed to match conditions and the value of Cameron Smith to the Storm went through the roof in his absence. Melbourne were unable to get on the roll they traditionally get on from around the ruck area without Smith's presence.

Leeds opened the scoring in the 12th minute when lock forward and captain Kevin Sinfield kicked an early penalty goal.

Four minutes later the Storm crossed first through Australian International forward Ryan Hoffman. Steve Turner was unable to convert with the Storm leading 4-2.

On the stroke of half-time Leeds struck the most important blow in the match when former North Queensland based Upper Ross Rams junior Scott Donald who enjoyed success at Manly in Australia scored two minutes from the break to push the Rhinos back into the front. Sinfield added the extras as Leeds went into the sheds leading 8-4.

Sinfield landed another goal midway through the second half to push the Rhinos lead out to a converted try and added a crucial drop goal 12 minutes from the end to ensure Melbourne had to score twice if they wanted to grab victory in the final moments.

The Rhinos defence held firm and it was the 5th successive year the English Super League champions knocked off the NRL champions.

Backrow trio of Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Wests Tigers bound Gareth Ellis and captain Sinfield were all outstanding for the victors.

Next week Leeds return to Super League action when travel to the Jungle to take on cellar dwellars Castleford. The Rhinos Round 4 match in Super League against Hull KR, which was due to be played this weekend was played a week prior to the season starting. Leeds currently have a 4-0 record in Super League and regardless of how the five matches go this weekend the Rhinos will hold a comfortable lead at top of the ladder.

NRL action starts on Friday 14th March with Melbourne's first match on Monday 17th March when they host the New Zealand Warriors at Olympic Park with Smith set to return while Greg Inglis will be racing the clock to be fit for the opening round.

Scoring Details:
68 Leeds Drop goal by Kevin Sinfield
60 Leeds Goal by Kevin Sinfield
39 Leeds Goal by Kevin Sinfield
38 Leeds Try by Scott Donald
17 Melbourne Goal missed by Steve Turner
16 Melbourne Try by Ryan Hoffman
12 Leeds Goal by Kevin Sinfield

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Fri February 29, 2008
• Bulls Chairman backing Rhinos in World Club Challenge
  
Fri February 29, 2008
• Headingley Insight: World Club Challenge
  
Thu February 28, 2008
• Bellamy trims World Club Challenge squad to 19
  
Sat February 16, 2008
• Melbourne squad for World Club Challenge
  
Thu February 7, 2008
• Smith to miss World Club Challenge
  

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