2008 World Club Challenge
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Carnegie World Club Challenge
was contested between Super League XII
champions, the Leeds Rhinos
and National Rugby League season 2007
premiers, the Melbourne Storm
. For the fifth consecutive year the English home team defeated their Australian counterparts.
, earning them a place in the World Club Challenge.
Melbourne played a warm-up game against National League One team
Halifax
.
and one week before the start of NRL season 2008.
33,204 spectators turned out at Elland Road
, in Leeds for a hard-fought, low-scoring match in which each side scored a try apiece, with Leeds ultimately coming out winners, due largely to the kicking of Kevin Sinfield
. The win meant the English champions side defeated their Australian counterparts for the fifth consecutive year. Many experts blamed the result happened due to Melbourne Storm's loss of many key players which were: Cameron Smith
(Captain, Hooker, Australian Test Player), Greg Inglis
(Five-Eighth/Centre, Australian Test Player), Matt King (Centre/Wing, Australian Test Player), Ben Cross
(Prop, State of Origin NSW Player) and Michael Crocker
(Second-row Australian Test Player)
Kevin Sinfield
, Leeds Rhinos
captain was awarded man of the match. The victory was the fifth consecutive win by the European champions over their Australasian counterparts.
World Club Challenge
The World Club Challenge is an annual rugby league football match held between the champions of the Australasian National Rugby League and the European Super League competitions to determine the world's best rugby league club...
was contested between Super League XII
Super League XII
Engage Super League XII is the official name for the year 2007's Super League season in the sport of rugby league.The 2007 season kicked off on the weekend of 2 February 2007 at the Galpharm Stadium. For the first time, the league had a staggered start due to the World Club Challenge between St...
champions, the Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
and National Rugby League season 2007
National Rugby League season 2007
The 2007 NRL season was the one hundredth season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the tenth run by the National Rugby League...
premiers, the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
. For the fifth consecutive year the English home team defeated their Australian counterparts.
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos qualified through being the 2007 Super League champions, defeating St. Helens 33 - 6 in the Grand Final.Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm clinched the 2007 National Rugby League title in a 34 - 8 belting of ManlyManly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
, earning them a place in the World Club Challenge.
Melbourne played a warm-up game against National League One team
Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
.
Teams
| Leeds Rhinos Leeds Rhinos Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League... |
Melbourne Storm Melbourne Storm The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria.... |
|
|---|---|---|
| Brent Webb Brent Webb Brent Webb is an Australian-born New Zealand rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Leeds in the Super League. Webb plays as a full-back and is a former New Zealand international.-Early years:... |
Fullback | Billy Slater Billy Slater Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne... |
| Lee Smith Lee Smith (rugby league) Lee Smith is an English rugby league player who is currently in his second stint playing for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. He had a brief spell in rugby union with the London Wasps in the Guinness Premiership.-Early career:... |
Winger | Steve Turner |
| Clinton Toopi Clinton Toopi Clinton Toopi is a professional rugby footballer who is currently playing for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League. His usual position is centre.-Playing career:... |
Centre | Will Chambers Will Chambers Will Chambers is an Australian rugby union footballer. He played in the Super 15 for the Queensland Reds and is currently playing for Irish province Munster in the RaboDirect Pro12, as of September 2011.... |
| Keith Senior Keith Senior Keith Senior is an English professional rugby league or who most recently played for the Leeds Rhinos in Super League. He has won every honour in the English domestic game. He holds the record for the most Super League appearances & the most Super League tries... |
Centre | Israel Folau Israel Folau Israel Folau is a professional Australian rules footballer currently listed with the Greater Western Sydney Football Club in the Australian Football League . He previously played Rugby league for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League from 2007 to 2008 where he broke the record for most... |
| Scott Donald Scott Donald Scott Albert Donald is a retired Australian professional rugby league footballer and played for the Leeds Rhinos of the European Super League competition... |
Winger | Anthony Quinn Anthony Quinn (rugby league) Anthony Quinn is an Australian professional rugby league player for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League competition. After playing for the Newcastle Knights' feeder club Valentine-Eleebana, Quinn was called up to the NRL in 2002... |
| Danny McGuire Danny McGuire Danny McGuire is an English professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. His preferred position is at /. He has played his entire career to date with the Rhinos, having come through the club's Academy.... |
Stand Off / Five-eighth | Matt Geyer Matt Geyer Matt Geyer is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup. A New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he played his club football primarily with the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League competition, winning premierships with them in 1999... |
| Rob Burrow Rob Burrow Rob Burrow is an English professional rugby league footballer with the Leeds Rhinos of Super League. He has represented both England and Great Britain as a hooker/half. He has spent his whole career to date at Leeds, having won the Super League championship with them five times... |
Scrum Half / Halfback | Cooper Cronk Cooper Cronk Cooper Patrick Cronk is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for the Melbourne Storm of the NRL... (c) |
| Kylie Leuluai Kylie Leuluai Kylie Leuluai is a professional rugby league footballer currently contracted to the Leeds Rhinos of Super League... |
Prop | Jeff Lima Jeff Lima Jeff Lima is a professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors of Europe's Super League... |
| Matt Diskin Matt Diskin Matt Diskin is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Bradford Bulls of Super League. A Great Britain and England international representative hooker, he played ten years with Leeds Rhinos, having won four Super League championships with the club, before moving to the Bulls for the... |
Hooker | Ryan Hinchcliffe Ryan Hinchcliffe Ryan Hinchcliffe is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the NRL. Hinchliffe began his NRL career at Parramatta. He previously played for the Canberra Raiders before moving to the Storm, with whom he won the 2009 NRL Premiership.Ryan Hinchcliffe is a hooker... |
| Jamie Peacock Jamie Peacock James "Jamie" Peacock is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Leeds Rhinos of the European Super League... |
Prop | Brett White Brett White Brett White is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canberra Raiders, and formally of the Melbourne Storm of the NRL... |
| Jamie Jones-Buchanan Jamie Jones-Buchanan Jamie Jones-Buchanan is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays for Leeds of Super League. An England international representative second-rower, he has played his entire professional career to date with Leeds and has won four Super League championships with the club.His Leeds... |
2nd Row | Antonio Kaufusi Antonio Kaufusi Antonio Kaufusi is a Tongan-Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for the London Broncos of the English Super League. An Australian and Tongan international and Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he previously played for the Melbourne Storm, North... |
| Gareth Ellis Gareth Ellis Gareth Ellis is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League . He has represented at international level for Great Britain and England and primarily plays in the back row... |
2nd Row | Ryan Hoffman Ryan Hoffman Ryan Hoffman is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors of the Super League... |
| Kevin Sinfield Kevin Sinfield Kevin Sinfield is an English professional rugby league player. He is the captain of the Leeds Rhinos in Super League. His recognised position is /, although he can cover both /, and . He has represented both England and Great Britain at international level.-Career:Sinfield began his career at... (c) |
Loose Forward / Lock | Dallas Johnson Dallas Johnson Dallas Johnson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League and formerly the Melbourne Storm and Catalans Dragons. He plays primarily as a lock forward.Between 2007 and 2009, Johnson played in four consecutive NRL grand finals... |
| Ali Lauitiiti Ali Lauitiiti Ali Lauitiiti is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for English club Leeds Rhinos in the European Super League. Both a Samoa and New Zealand international representative forward, he previously played in the National Rugby League for the Warriors... |
Interchange | Russell Aitken Russell Aitken Russell Aitken is an Australian professional rugby league footballer with the AS Carcassonne rugby league club in France.... |
| Carl Ablett Carl Ablett Carl Ablett is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Leeds Rhinos of Europe's Super League competition. Carl made numerous appearances in the second half of the 06/07 season after recovering from injury, he was part of the Grand Final 2007 winning squad selected by Tony... |
Interchange | Adam Blair Adam Blair Adam Blair is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer currently contracted to the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League until 1 November 2011, when he will join the Wests Tigers. A New Zealand international representative forward, Blair spent six seasons with the Storm, winning... |
| Nick Scruton Nick Scruton Nick Scruton is a rugby league player who plays for Bradford Bulls and has also represented England. He was part of the Rhinos Grand Final victory in 2007 over St Helens at Old Trafford and also part of the team that won the 2008 World Club Challenge versus the Melbourne Storm at Elland Road.Nick... |
Interchange | Sika Manu Sika Manu Sika Manu is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Melbourne Storm in the NRL. He was a member of the World Cup winning New Zealand team who beat Australia in the 2008 World Cup Final... |
| Ryan Bailey | Interchange | Sam Tagataese Sam Tagataese Sam Tagataese is a rugby league player for the Cronulla Sharks.-Playing career:Tagataese attended St... |
| Brian McClennan Brian McClennan Brian "Bluey" McClennan is the head coach for the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League . He was previously the head coach of the New Zealand national team and then England's Leeds Rhinos club... |
Coach | Craig Bellamy |
Match details
The match was played in wintry conditions on Friday evening, 29 February, four rounds into the 2008 Super League competitionSuper League XIII
Engage Super League XIII was the official name, due to sponsorship, for the 2008 Super League season by Engage Mutual. Twelve teams competed for the Minor Premiership over 27 rounds after which, the top 6 finishing teams entered the play-offs where they competed for a place in the Grand Final and...
and one week before the start of NRL season 2008.
33,204 spectators turned out at Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
, in Leeds for a hard-fought, low-scoring match in which each side scored a try apiece, with Leeds ultimately coming out winners, due largely to the kicking of Kevin Sinfield
Kevin Sinfield
Kevin Sinfield is an English professional rugby league player. He is the captain of the Leeds Rhinos in Super League. His recognised position is /, although he can cover both /, and . He has represented both England and Great Britain at international level.-Career:Sinfield began his career at...
. The win meant the English champions side defeated their Australian counterparts for the fifth consecutive year. Many experts blamed the result happened due to Melbourne Storm's loss of many key players which were: Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League...
(Captain, Hooker, Australian Test Player), Greg Inglis
Greg Inglis
Greg Inglis is an Australian professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative outside back, Inglis joined the Rabbitohs in 2011 after much controversy.Inglis is a versatile back, having played in several...
(Five-Eighth/Centre, Australian Test Player), Matt King (Centre/Wing, Australian Test Player), Ben Cross
Ben Cross
Ben Cross is a British actor of the stage and screen, best known for his portrayal of the British Olympic athlete Harold Abrahams in the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire.-Early life:...
(Prop, State of Origin NSW Player) and Michael Crocker
Michael Crocker
Michael Crocker is an Australian professional rugby league footballer with the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the NRL...
(Second-row Australian Test Player)
Kevin Sinfield
Kevin Sinfield
Kevin Sinfield is an English professional rugby league player. He is the captain of the Leeds Rhinos in Super League. His recognised position is /, although he can cover both /, and . He has represented both England and Great Britain at international level.-Career:Sinfield began his career at...
, Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
captain was awarded man of the match. The victory was the fifth consecutive win by the European champions over their Australasian counterparts.