WCC 2007: St Helens Saints vs Brisbane Broncos

[Steve]

Has the WCC ever been anything other than farcical?
Why make a fuss this time around?

[Poida]

AND . . . .. .

what do you want me to do about it . . . . .

lol youre sig is cool. dw about it

[Volume]

Possible line-up: (from the Broncos website)
1. Darius Boyd
2. Denan Kemp
3. Nick Emmett
4. Steve Michaels
5. Gideon Mzembe
6. Greg Eastwood
7. Shane Perry
13. David Stagg
12. Brad Thorn
11. Dane Carlaw
10. Corey Parker
9. Michael Ennis
8. Ben Hannant

14. David Taylor
15. Nick Kenny
16. Joel Moon
17. Ian Lacey

(I was wondering where Nick Parfitt was at first, but apparently he's leaving the Broncos. Not sure where he is going, however.)
Not too bad. Plus Carroll is out of the Tri-Nations now, so he'll probably be there too, as well as any Broncos that are in the Tri-Nations squad but don't play.

[Queenslander]

From the Courier Mail

Next year's World Club Challenge match could be cancelled because of the Broncos' policy of resting their eight Test stars after the Tri-Nations series.

NRL operations manager Graham Annesley said yesterday the match against the English champions was in doubt because of the prospect of Brisbane fielding an understrength side.

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League's World Club Challenge 'farcical'
Tuesday, October 3, 2006 - 7:41 PM

The World Club Challenge between Brisbane and the English club champion threatens to degenerate into a farce with most of the Broncos premiership winning squad set to miss the match.

Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen said on Tuesday he planned to give his representative players an eight week holiday following their Tri Nations commitments, with the series final scheduled for November 25 in Sydney.

That would mean up to ten players wouldn't be back on deck until just a few days before the annual match between the NRL champions and English title holders which has been marked in for the first weekend of February.

"That's a bit of a worry when you talk about burnout, particularly that Tri Nations mob," Cullen told AAP on Tuesday night.

"We're going to have to give them eight weeks off at the end of November.

"That means we've got a major problem in regards to the World Club Challenge.

"They'll be still on their break when it's played. They're not going to play a game after not having done anything for eight weeks."

The Broncos have at least nine players involved in the Tri Nations series, with winger Tame Tupou set to be named in the New Zealand squad on Wednesday.

They also have four players selected in the Junior Kangaroos 17-man squad to play the Kiwis in Melbourne on October 21 as a curtain-raiser to the Test between Australia and New Zealand.

Utility Greg Eastwood could also be called into the Kiwis squad.

And Shane Webcke (retired) and Casey McGuire (Les Catalans) will also be missing from the side that beat Melbourne 15-8 in Sunday's grand final.

"But we're not saying they won't be (available), we've just got to see what happens throughout the Tri Nations and see where they all are at the end of November," Cullen said.

The match could be played in Brisbane depending on negotiations between the NRL and Rugby Football League (RFL) and will be contested between Brisbane and St Helens, Hull or Bradford.

The English champions have won five of the past six World Club Challenge games, with the Sydney Roosters being the last Australian side to triumph - a 38-0 thrashing of St Helens in 2003.

Meanwhile, former Test rake Ben Elias said Broncos coach Wayne Bennett would be mad to shift Berrigan from hooker next season, despite the presence of Ian Lacey and Michael Ennis.

"He's the reason the Broncos got to the grand final," said Elias on Tuesday.

"Why would you change a side that got you to the grand final?

"Berrigan's got a Clive Churchill Medal and he's been dynamite. He's been the most impressive player in the semi-finals series by a country mile.

"I thought the form hooker was Cameron Smith but Berrigan gave him a knock-out punch, round three in the grand final."

Broncos fans will be able to toast Brisbane's premiership success with commemorative beer brewed by club sponsors Castlemaine Perkins.

Celebrating Broncos players will take part in the launch of the beer in Brisbane on WEdnesday following a parade and civic reception for the team.

Source: AAP

[Grimmace]

Broncos 'won't risk' top players for WCC
Thursday, October 12, 2006 - 1:43 PM

Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen says he won't risk Brisbane's NRL premiership defence for the sake of the World Club Challenge (WCC) match against the English champions.

The annual clash between the NRL champions and the English Super League title holders threatens to be cancelled because the Broncos are likely to field a second-string team and give their representative players a rest.

If St Helens beat Hull in the Super League final at Old Trafford on Saturday, Saints could adopt Brisbane's attitude as they've provided seven players to Britain's Tri-Nations squad.

NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said a decision on whether the February 4 match goes ahead will be made early next week following consultation with the Broncos, the Super League champions and the sport's English governing body the Rugby Football League.

Asked if he'd be disappointed if the game was scrapped, Cullen said: "On the one hand you'd like to play in a world club championship and you'd like to win one but the important thing in our minds is the welfare of the players.

"They have to come through a long, long hard year and a lot of them still have six weeks to go.

"You wouldn't play a World Club Challenge if you thought it would put next season in jeopardy. That'd be crazy."

The Broncos have 13 players involved in representative teams over the coming weeks - eight in the Tri Nations (seven Kangaroos, one Kiwi) and the rest in junior national teams.

Cullen said he wanted to know Brisbane's opponent and their attitude towards the game before making a final assessment on his club's plan for the WCC.

"It'd only be cancelled if we can't field a decent side and you'd be disappointed if we have to make that call," he added.

"But we've got seven in the Australian side - how many are we going to have in the Queensland Origin side next year?

"This time next year we could have everyone laughing at us because we didn't make the semi-finals after winning the premiership."

There's a good chance the WCC will be played in Brisbane if given the green light because organisers are confident of drawing a decent crowd to Suncorp Stadium.

"It's a very expensive event to put on and we have to make sure we can generate good revenue from it," Annesley said.

"We have to give ourselves the best possible chance of attracting a crowd and to do that people will expect at least a fair chunk of the major players will be involved.

"If it's played we want it to be a fair dinkum game.

"We don't want to devalue the game or the World Club Challenge brand in any way."

Meanwhile, the Australian Rugby League has launched a national masters competition to be staged on the Gold Coast for at least the next three years.

The inaugural event, open to players aged 35 and over and played under modified rules, starts at Runaway Bay on March 22.

Source: AAP

[[BroncosGirl]]

I dont think Id have too much of a worry if it was canceled. But forthe game it probably shouldnt be!

[Grimmace]

Broncos in rematch with St.Helens
by Scott Dickson
Sunday October 15, 2006

NRL premiers? the Ergon Energy Broncos will get the chance to square the ledger against English club St.Helens in next February?s World Club Challenge after the Saints claimed the Super League title at Old Trafford this morning (AEST).

The English league powerhouse comfortably downed Hull FC 26-4 in Manchester after romping to minor premiership success in finishing the regular rounds eight points clear of Hull.

St. Helens pipped the Broncos 20-18 in the 2001 World Club Challenge at Bolton?s Reebok Stadium.

In 2000, Brisbane beat the Sydney Roosters 14-6 in the NRL decider while St.Helens were too good for Wigan 29-16 at Wembley to retain their Super League title.

In 2006, the Broncos finished third at the end of the home and away season, 12 points behind table toppers Melbourne and four in arrears to the Bulldogs.

But coach Wayne Bennett?s men went on to beat the Storm 15-8 in the decider which counted in Sydney.

But Broncos CEO Bruno Cullen said following the grand final the club?s eight current Test players could miss the St.Helens match as their six week end of season break following the Tri-Nations concludes at the end of January.

That does not give Kangaroos Darren Lockyer, Petero Civoniceva, Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt, Shaun Berrigan, Brent Tate and Sam Thaiday, and Kiwi Tame Tupou much time to prepare for the match to be played on the first weekend of February.

In their five World Club Challenges, the Broncos have overall got the better of the British.

Captained by champion halfback Allan Langer, pictured, the club overcame Wigan 22-8 in 1992, lost the rematch 20-14 at Brisbane's ANZ Stadium in 1994 before thumping Hunter Mariners 36-12 in Super League version in 1997.

No WCC was played in 1998 after the Broncos beat Canterbury 38-12 in the first NRL grand final.

Either side of beating the Broncos, St.Helens have suffered two WCC beltings. In 2003 the Sydney Roosters won 38-0 at the Reebok Stadium before Melbourne won 44-6 in Wigan in 2000.
Source:www.broncos.com.au

[Grimmace]

Sea Eagles' World offer
By Dean Ritchie
October 18, 2006

MANLY has boldly offered to take Brisbane's place in next year's World Club Challenge.

Brisbane appear lukewarm on playing British champion St Helens in the traditional pre-season match.

The Broncos want to rest several of their star players - raising fears the match may be cancelled.

"What better way to start the new season than having Jamie Lyon playing for his new club against his old club," Manly chief executive Grant Mayer said.

But Broncos CEO Bruno Cullen said: "We are still very keen to play it at a later date."

Source: Daily Telegraph

[Queenslander]

Sea Eagles' World offer
By Dean Ritchie
October 18, 2006

MANLY has boldly offered to take Brisbane's place in next year's World Club Challenge.

Brisbane appear lukewarm on playing British champion St Helens in the traditional pre-season match.

The Broncos want to rest several of their star players - raising fears the match may be cancelled.

"What better way to start the new season than having Jamie Lyon playing for his new club against his old club," Manly chief executive Grant Mayer said.

But Broncos CEO Bruno Cullen said: "We are still very keen to play it at a later date."

Source: Daily Telegraph

:ok: The WCC has been created to determine the best team out of both the NRL and ESL, not as a publicity tool show off a new player at a club....The only way Manly can get into the WCC is to actually win a NRL grand final.....good luck with that by the way Manly

[zacaroo]

thats pretty stupid brisbane should be playign them not stupid manly!! i hate them!!

[Pale Ale Panther]

With Jamie Lyon there, the Poms would love it, Manly are prob the Favs for next season, so if they want to do it and Broncs don't cool. i wouldn't bother if i was the Broncs the Aussie players need a break, not mor travel. let Manly go, .................................mabey the Bronc's could sell the right to play ? highest bidder, make a nice bit of $'s on the deal...

[Titanium_BD1103]

I agree with all here, either Brisbane plays in the WCC or we don't play at all.

Manly playing would be an absolute farce on what is already a farce as they didn't even win the comp or win the minor comp, the WCC is the 2 best sides in the Australia and England playing against each other to find a so called world champion.

There is no reason why that should change, even if Manly want to do some publicity stunt with Lyon, there is a precedent as to who plays in this game and to change that would make the game a real farce and threaten it for future years.

[PROMETHEUS]

I say let manly play...hopefully Lyon cops a career ending injury!!!

[Grimmace]

Bosses want Bronco stars
Greg Davis and David Riccio
October 22, 2006 12:00am

ENGLISH rugby league powerbrokers are considering starting the entire 2007 Super League season a week earlier to allow Brisbane to field a full-strength line-up for the World Club Challenge clash with St Helens.

The Broncos have repeatedly stated they will not make their host of Test stars available for the annual match-up between the NRL and English premiers, which has been scheduled for February 4 in the UK.
Brisbane plans to give its internationals a full eight weeks' rest following the Tri-Nations tournament before they start pre-season training. This will effectively rule them out of the match against the Saints.

However, St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus says the game's governing body in England ? the Rugby Football League ? is considering a plan so the match can take place on February 24 with a star-studded Brisbane side.

The Saints boss says the RFL could start the English season a week earlier in February to open up a weekend for the WCC later that month so it doesn't throw out the rest of next year's schedule.

"Our point of view is that we would play the game anywhere and at anytime as long as it was viable for both clubs," McManus told The Sunday Mail from England.

"If we go ahead with February 4 with a weakened Broncos side then I think that would undervalue the game but the other alternative is to bring our whole season a week forward to open up the date towards the end of the month.

"We would love to play a full-strength Broncos side and our fans would love to see it too so hopefully we can work something out for the good of the game."

McManus said he did not envisage St Helens being able to find time in its hectic domestic schedule to make the trip to Australia later in the season and the game would almost certainly have to be played in England.

He said the club's Tri-Nations representatives would be available for the match despite the gruelling workload for the English stars that sees the Super League season start before the NRL and finish after the Australian season.

Brisbane has a February 24 trial against Canberra at Dolphin Oval on the last weekend for NRL pre-season matches before the premiership starts a fortnight later.
Source: Sunday Mail

[Grimmace]

World Club Challenge to go ahead

October 26, 2006 THE rugby league World Club Challenge will go ahead between St Helens and Brisbane in England on February 23.

The match had been in some doubt with the Broncos' commitment to rest those players involved in this year's Tri-Nations event for Australia.

"We very much wanted to play the match but could not do so on the traditional early February date," Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen, said today.

"St Helens and the Rugby Football League have agreed to stage the match a little later this year and that will give us the chance to put together our best possible team and to do the match justice."

As the Super League will have already begun, the match will be played in the UK again at a venue yet to be decided.

AAP