2010 World Club Challenge

2010 (2010) World Club Challenge  ()
1 2 Total
LEE 4 6 10
MEL 4 14 18
Date 28 February 2010
Stadium Elland Road
Location Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
Man of the Match Cameron Smith, Melbourne
Referee Richard Silverwood (England)
Attendance 27,697
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters Sky Sports (live)
Fox Sports (live)
Nine Network (delayed until 2 March 2010)
Commentators Eddie Hemmings, Mike Stephenson, Phil Clarke
 < 2009
2011

The 2010 World Club Challenge (known as the Gillette World Club Challenge due to sponsorship by Gillette Fusion[1]) was a rugby league tournament contested by Super League XIV champions, Leeds Rhinos, and 2009 NRL Premiers the Melbourne Storm. Melbourne Storm won the game 18-10;[2] however, it was stripped of the title of 2010 World Club Champion (as well as its 2009 NRL premiership and other titles) after the club was found guilty of salary cap breaches. The prize money was redistributed to Leeds, but the title of World Club Champion was not.[3]

Contents

Qualification

Leeds Rhinos

Leeds Rhinos qualified through being the 2009 Super League champions, defeating St Helens RLFC 18–10 in the Grand Final.

Melbourne Storm

Melbourne Storm qualified by being crowned the 2009 National Rugby League premiers with a 23–16 defeat of the Parramatta Eels, in the NRL Grand Final. This premiership victory was later revoked, but Leeds are not taking action on the matter. The disbursement of the prize money may be addressed by the RFL.[4]

The Storm, despite being stripped of their two premerships, were initially allowed to keep the World Club Challenge title, including the trophy and prize money they won; however, on May 11, 2011, a final report released further detailing the Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal recommended the Storm be stripped of the 2010 World Club Challenge[3].

History

This was Leeds' third consecutive appearance in the World Club Challenge, and the second appearance in three years for Melbourne. Melbourne and Leeds previously played each other in the 2008 World Club Challenge with Leeds winning that match 11 - 4.

Pre-match

Melbourne played a warm-up game against the Harlequins Rugby League Super League team at the Twickenham Stoop.[5] The match took place on Sunday 21 February - a week before the Storm played for the world title.[6] The event was dubbed the World City Challenge – London Series.[7] Melbourne were without Cooper Cronk, Brett White and Ryan Tandy, with both sides giving a number of youngsters a taste of first-team action.[8]

21 February 2010
14:00 GMT
Harlequins RL 10–34 Melbourne Storm The Stoop
Attendance: 3,612
Tries: Ben Jones-Bishop, Will Sharp
Goals: Danny Orr
(Report) Tries: Anthony Quinn, Kevin Proctor, Dane Nielsen (2), Hep Cahill, Rory Kostjaysn
Goals: Gareth Widdop (5)

Teams

2010 World Club Challenge Teams
Leeds Rhinos Positions Melbourne Storm
Brent Webb Fullback Billy Slater
Kallum Watkins Wing Luke MacDougall
Keith Senior Centre Greg Inglis
Brett Delaney Centre Dane Nielsen
Ryan Hall Wing Anthony Quinn
Danny McGuire Stand Off / Five-eighth Brett Finch
Rob Burrow Scrum Half / Halfback Cameron Smith
Jamie Jones-Buchanan Prop Aiden Tolman
Matt Diskin Hooker Ryan Hinchcliffe
Jamie Peacock Prop Jeff Lima
Ian Kirke 2nd Row Adam Blair
Kylie Leuluai 2nd Row Ryan Hoffman
Kevin Sinfield Loose Forward / Lock Todd Lowrie
Ali Lauitiiti Interchange Kevin Proctor
Greg Eastwood Interchange Rory Kostjaysn
Danny Buderus Interchange Hep Cahill
Ryan Bailey Interchange Jesse Bromwich
Brian McClennan Coach Craig Bellamy

Match details

28 February 2010
18:30 GMT
Leeds Rhinos 10–18 Melbourne Storm Elland Road
Attendance: 27,697
Referee/s: Richard Silverwood (England)
Man of the Match: Cameron Smith
Tries: Danny Maguire
Goals: Kevin Sinfield, Rob Burrow (2)
(Report) Tries: Luke MacDougall, Anthony Quinn
Goals: Cameron Smith (5)

First half

Leeds almost scored early in the first half when Brent Webb ran over but he was held up by Luke MacDougall on the last tackle. Soon after they posted the first points with a penalty goal to captain Kevin Sinfield. Soon after Melbourne drew level with a penalty goal of their own through captain Cameron Smith. After Sinfield left the field with an injury, Rob Burrow kicked another penalty goal, leaving them two points in front. Smith then leveled the score again with the fourth consecutive penalty goal. The half ended with the scored tied 4-all.

2nd Half

Later in the match, Smith attempted a grubber kick which landed in the path of Danny McGuire, who ran down the length of the field to score the first try. Burrow's conversion pushed the margin out to six. Melbourne responded with MacDougall who scored in the right corner. Despite the tough angle, Smith made the conversion. Kallum Watkins nearly scored in the right corner, but dropped the ball. Anthony Quinn's try, put the sealing on the game with Storm winning 18-10.

Man of the Match

The Man of the Match was awarded to Cameron Smith from the Melbourne Storm.

Significance

References

External links