So are we off down under do we think?

Story earlier in the week with GH saying we're playing it at Ellamd Road.

Cas are having their game at Wheldon Road.

I hope not. It could really hamper the start of the season. Let Melbourne send their academy over and we can win a 4th WCC

Melbourne already said they aren’t interested in travelling over for the world club challenge in their press conference after the final. GH has said Leeds would be interesting in travelling to Melbourne. RFL have doubts over the second game.

Melbourne already committed to two friendlies, one a joint testimonial for Thurston and Smith & another in New Zealand. Aswell as the nines competition, I just can’t see it happening in England next year.

Nrl have already confirmed that 9 and indigenous all stars have been cancelled for 2018 season . I hope it happens in England, personally can't stand Melbourne storm just get a feel from them that they are smug and don't wanna know anything other than there own club hopefully they play us in wcc and we give them what they deserve.

It seems Melbourne aren't interested at all.

I'm sure one of the NRL clubs would come over + give us a game? Especially at a sold out Elland Road. Would it sell out if it wasn't a legit WCC game?

We should play it against North Queensland Cowboys.

The Graham Murray cup?

If its not melbourne i have little interest personally in the game.its just an unwanted destraction for the first couple of months of the year, we need to hit the ground running with the big lancashire clubs likely to be much improved in this year.

I'm massively interested in seeing us against any NRL side. Whether it's a WCC game or just a friendly.

I agree. Not interested unless it's a legit WCC against the Storm. Leeds make a lot of money from these games and they split the cost with the NRL side. I imagine a sellout at elland road would probably entice the storm.

Genuine question: What is this match between Wigan and Hull in Aus? Anything to do with World Club? (I know it shouldn't be)

Nope it's a Super League fixture for them, whoever wins will get 2 points

If Melbourne don't want to play just award us the trophy



They owe us one after Melbourne got stripped of the 2010 one they won against us.

If this fixture is in Australia, Friday 16th February would be a perfect date to hold it in Melbourne. #justsaying

www.skysports.com/rugby-league/n ... therington Apologies but can`t seem to copy the shortcut link from the Wigan site. Basically it says Storm may not be prepared to travel to Leeds for the game. They already have a testimonial arranged with NQC back end of Feb. GH says Leeds would be prepared to go over there even though we have already booked ER. Thoughts?

www.skysports.com/rugby-league/n ... therington Apologies but can`t seem to copy the shortcut link from the Wigan site. Basically it says Storm may not be prepared to travel to Leeds for the game. They already have a testimonial arranged with NQC back end of Feb. GH says Leeds would be prepared to go over there even though we have already booked ER. Thoughts?

I know garys got pound signs in his eyes but id rather not bother.
Melbourne have tarnished what little credibility the trophy had with there current stance. If theyd rather play a friendly then fair enough, but id rather not drag the squad half way round the world at the start of the season to play a team that cant be d with it.

I agree and it seems to hamper the season of teams that are involved too

If the NRL Champions aren't bothered then 100% agree.

I agree. Why bother screwing up our season?
Then again we only start playing in September so would get the jet lag well and truly out of the way!
On the other hand does that mean Wigan retain the trophy indefinitely?

Yeah not really fussed if we play it. It was nice to win it for the first time and nice to win it at Headingley in 2012 but it's not really something I'm bothered about winning again because the roll call of excuses come out when the Aussies do lose to such an extent that it loses a lot of its meaning and hampers your chances of winning the domestic trophies.

Looking like Australia on 3rd March 2018. Will probably mean we miss RD3. That weekend may be a free weekend in the Super League calander as it normal is when the WCS gets played.

Seen on the VT the usual argument about playing the WCC a week or two after the GF's so that it's the same 17's on show.

Melbourne have 15 of their 17 playing in the WC and does anybody think for one second that Smith, Cronk and Slater will risk getting injured before their final WC to play this game? I very much doubt it, you'd be lucky to see half of any NRL teams GF 17.

This year is a bit unusual with it being the WC; however, your point is valid and not just to the Aussie teams.

If we are going to have a WCC, under normal circumstances, it would be better played a couple of weeks after the respective domestic competitions have finished.

On the whole, I personally no longer see any merit in the WCC, not least for the reasons you have already stated.

Nope. If we want it, let's go back to the tested way and give it another go. Take three weeks out of the season, top eight from each competition split into four groups of four. Three matches each group played over first 10 days, top teams from each group in semi finals weekend after, and the winners play the final week after.

They could even play one of matches like a magic weekend, four games one day, four the day after, to save us having to have the silly extra match in our competition. And we all get to see the top players in action.