WCC 2007: St Helens Saints vs Brisbane Broncos

[Queenslander]

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

Not again........... :curse:

[titansroostersfan]

It's a joke. All other clubs have put there players on the line for this WCC. What's wrong with the protective species in the NRL (broncos). They should either go and play or let the 2nd or 3rd team play for it.


Get over yourself broncos- a little game to prove who is just the best and you guys don't wanna play. Afraid to lose i say. :lol!:

[Capital_Shark]

Get over yourself broncos- a little game to prove who is just the best and you guys don't wanna play. Afraid to lose i say. :lol!:

Hate to agree with a chook, but have no other choice...

[Poida]

yeh i dont see why teams but broncos have to put their players out to this game.
and as for nrl sides not taking it seriously i doubt it since storm did win theirs back in 2000

[titansroostersfan]

i think the games proves heaps and shows the english teams what talent we have on show back here in oz.

I still say go with it. Good warm up for the boys then maybe drop one of there trail games instead.

[Queenslander]

Broncos play at Anfield
Steve Ricketts
October 27, 2006 12:00am

THE Broncos expect to grace the hallowed turf of Liverpool FC's Anfield Stadium in England with close to a full-strength side in next year's World Club Challenge clash with St Helens.

Anfield is shaping as the venue for the February 23 clash which will go ahead after a deal was finalised yesterday between Super League in England and the NRL.
The 44,000-capacity stadium hosted the 1991 final between Wigan and Penrith which English champions Wigan won 21-4.

St Helens' home Knowsley Road has a capacity of only 16,000 and with the Broncos promising to take their best players to England the ground will not be big enough, particularly as the Saints team is regarded as one of the best in the club's 133-year history.

The biggest hurdle to the match being played at Anfield could be concerns over the state of the pitch with Liverpool set to play Sheffield United at home on February 24.

The Broncos-Saints match was in danger of being called off after originally being scheduled for February 4 when the Broncos' eight Test stars would have been back in training for only a fortnight.

But Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen said last night the later date meant the club could make a commitment to send its best side.

"The only players definitely missing from the grand final side will be Shane Webcke who has retired and Casey McGuire who is going to France," Cullen said.

"David Stagg also could miss the trip because he faces a shoulder reconstruction. But the way is open for young players like David Taylor, Joel Moon and Steve Michaels to make the trip. We always said we valued the concept but we wanted to give it the respect it deserves."

Cullen said he was not disappointed the match would not be played at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium because he did not want it to upstage the round 1 NRL clash on the weekend of March 9-11 when the Broncos are likely to host the Cowboys.

St Helens beat Brisbane 20-18 at Bolton in England in 2001 after the Broncos beat the Roosters in the 2000 NRL grand final.

There are six St Helens players in the British Tri-Nations side to play New Zealand in Christchurch tomorrow ? Paul Wellens, Leon Pryce, Sean Long, James Roby, John Wilkin and Lee Gilmour.

The Courier Mail

[Queenslander]

Broncos stars back for new date
By Brent Read
October 27, 2006

THE latest international crisis in rugby league was averted last night when British officials agreed to push the World Club Challenge between Brisbane and St Helens back three weeks, ensuring the Broncos could field most of their representative stars.

The annual match between the champions of the NRL and Super League was under threat of being cancelled after it was originally scheduled for February 4, a date that would have forced Brisbane to field a virtual reserve-grade side.

Rather than compromise the match's standing, officials were prepared to cancel it if a solution could not be found.

However, talks between NRL and Super League officials in recent days resulted in the game being re-scheduled for February 22, a date more palatable to the Broncos.

"They came up with that date and we're happy to play," Brisbane chief executive Bruno Cullen said.

"We will take a team. It won't be our best team because of some off-season surgeries, but it will be a lot better than we would have had on the fourth."

Injury permitting, Brisbane and Australia captain Darren Lockyer will lead a Broncos side boasting the club's other Tri-Nations players - Shaun Berrigan, Petero Civoniceva, Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt, Brent Tate and Sam Thaiday.

None of those players would have been available had the original date stood as they have been given eight weeks off following the Tri-Nations - a break that will keep them off the training paddock until late-January should Australia qualify for the final.

New Zealand wing Tame Tupou was in the same boat.

With those players now free to play, the only members of the grand final-winning squad unavailable are retired pair Casey McGuire and Shane Webcke, and injured forward David Stagg (shoulder).

"Putting them aside, all of the players who are able-bodied at the time will be able to play," Cullen said.

The date change does, however, rule out any hope of the game being played in Australia.

Brisbane was the last Australian city to host a WCC final when the Broncos lost 20-14 to Wigan in 1993.

English sides have dominated the competition in recent years, winning four of the past five including last year's victory by Bradford over Wests Tigers.

NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley helped broker the date change, which ensures the WCC will be played for an eighth consecutive year.

"It's great that St Helens have shown the flexibility allowing us to play the game a few weeks later so that both teams can be at full strength and it will be a true challenge of the two competition winners," Annesley said.

The Australian

[Titanium_BD1103]

Glad to see that was all sorted and the WCC didn't turn into a farce... good luck to both St Helens and Brisbane, it should be a great game...

[Queenslander]

Saints want to win Down Under
By Laine Clark
October 27, 2006

ST Helens can prove it is the world's best side only if it plays Brisbane in the World Club Challenge in Australia, Saints chairman Eamonn McManus said today.

Uncertainty over the WCC's future finally cleared when it was announced English Super League champion St Helens would host Brisbane on February 23 - almost three weeks after its initial date.

The annual showdown between the Super League and NRL champions looked to be in doubt after the Broncos announced it would rest its representative players after the Tri-Nations campaign.

The WCC was originally slated for February 4 in Australia.

But those plans were shelved when the match was postponed until February 23 because the Super League season would already be underway.

St Helens will be a hot favourite to add the WCC title to its already impressive season haul that includes the Challenge Cup and the premiership trophy.

But McManus believes the only true test for his all-conquering side is to take on the NRL premier in Australia.

"In an ideal world, we would have preferred to play in Brisbane because that would be the only true way to prove you are the best in the world," he said.

"But it's not feasible for us to go there before the season starts and this suits them because it's still a week before their season begins.

"I'm just delighted it's going ahead. Brisbane are one of the best-known names in the world, with the likes of Darren Lockyer and Petero Civoniceva in their side.

"They are truly a glamour club."

Brisbane is expected to field a full-strength side against St Helens, minus only retired prop Shane Webcke and former Queensland Origin utility Casey McGuire, who is now playing in France.

Back rower-cum-wing David Stagg will find out on Monday whether he will be available when he undergoes exploratory surgery on a right shoulder injury.

If he requires a shoulder reconstruction he will be out for six months.

The last time the WCC was held in Australia, Wigan downed the Broncos 20-14 at ANZ Stadium in Brisbane.

The first choice venue for the 2007 WCC showdown was English Premier League club Liverpool's ground, Anfield, but that is considered unlikely because the Reds will host Sheffield United on February 24.

Everton's Goodison Park is the new favourite to host the game ahead of Wigan's JJB Stadium and Bolton's Reebok Stadium.

The Bolton venue hosted the last WCC clash between St Helens and Brisbane in 2001, which Saints won 20-18 in a thriller.

England has hosted the WCC since it returned as an annual event in 2000.

Super League sides have won five of the seven matches since 2000, with Sydney Roosters the last NRL team to emerge victorious thanks to its 38-0 win over St Helens in 2003.

AAP

[Poida]

Glad to see that was all sorted and the WCC didn't turn into a farce... good luck to both St Helens and Brisbane, it should be a great game...

yes and now i hope st helens wins

[titansroostersfan]

yes and now i hope st helens wins

St helens will show the broncos just how the game is played.

Go the saints.

[Poida]

St helens will show the broncos just how the game is played.

Go the saints.

Lol like how bradford showed the tigers.

[Grimmace]

Broncos to play semi-pro Welsh side

November 24, 2006 NRL champion Brisbane will play a semi-professional Welsh team to prepare for the World Club Challenge match against Super League champion St Helens in February.

Players in the National League Two side the Celtic Crusaders are said to be extremely excited by the prospect of lining up against Darren Lockyer's team in a probable sellout at their Brewery Field Ground in Brigend on February 15.

Broncos media manager Tony Durkin said today the match was organised by Crusaders coach John Dixon, who spent 10 years working with the Broncos before relocating to Wales 12 months ago.

The Broncos take on St Helens for the World Club Challenge title on February 23.

"We want to have a run when we get over there, just to acclimatise and run a few of the cobwebs out and all that type of stuff," Durkin said today.

"Most of our international players, the guys in the Tri Series, wouldn't be long back from their leave so that was the general idea."

Crusaders operations manager Gerald McCarthy has called the match "the biggest thing to have happened to Welsh rugby league ever".

"It's fantastic news and will put Crusaders and the sport on the map," he said.

AAP

[DIEHARD]

Im more excited about the prospect of the Broncos playing the Celtic Warriors than nearly the WCC itself! And I mean that in a positive way.

[Poida]

Brisbane set to play Crusaders
Written by: Geoff Stevenson
26/11/2006

Welsh National League Two club the Celtic Crusaders have secured the coup of the British off-season by gaining a friendly clash with the Brisbane Broncos.

The Bridgend based team will play the NRL champions at their home ground of Brewery Field on the 15th of February. The game will be used by the Broncos as a warm up for their World Club Challenge clash with St Helens on the 23rd of February.

The Bronco's undoubtedly decided on playing the Crusaders due to their previous association with Celtic coach John Dixon who was at the Brisbane club for ten years fulfilling roles such as development officer, feeder club coach and assistant coach.

The clash will be a financial boost for the Crusaders with the club already attracting interest from a number of Australian-based sponsors.

However the team will be more enthused about using the fixture as an opportunity to demonstrate to the wider rugby league community that they are future force in the game.

Despite being in their infancy, the Celtic Crusaders have made substantial progress in their inaugural season. Established last year by local businessman Leighton Samuel, the club made a bold attempt to win promotion in their first season.

Whilst playing in a league made up of part-time teams, the club secured the services of former NRL players Michael Ryan and Matt Jobson, as well as a host of local talent. This move almost paid off with the Crusaders missing out on promotion to National League One by only one point.

The RFL are set to further promote the code in Wales next year when they plan to hold a whole Superleague round over one weekend at Millenium Stadium.

With the European Superleague set to expand in 2009, and whisper circulating of the RFL's desire to establish an elite team in Wales, the Crusaders are as much about demonstrating their worth as a viable, profitable club, than winning football matches.

The club would proudly march into Superleague if they are able to win promotion in consecutive years but, if things go as planned, the Crusaders may be welcomed into Superleague in 2009 regardless.