Not much chance of Leeds Rhinos beating Melbourne Storm I would say.

Because of the absurdity of holding the WCC in the calendar year following the Grand Finals, neither team will be as they were in the Grand Finals. But at least Melbourne have a talented half back to replace Cooper Cronk (his name is Brodie Croft). Leeds only have in the waiting room Richard Myler, a spent force from the Catalans, as a replacement for Daniel McGuire.

This situation demands that in future we hold the NRL and SL Grand Finals on the same weekend, and the WCC two weeks later. Then we will have the same teams who won their Grand Finals. Also we will have a suitable grand finale of the rugby league club seasons, and also an entree to the international competitions.

Good I would say.

Never write off the Rhinos.

Wonder if JT will be back to play at Wheldon Road ?

Given that the Storm have just announced a friendly with North Queensland on the proposed weekend of the WCC, I'd say not much chance at all.

Don’t think there will be a WCS next year. Melbourne don’t want to do it, neither to Brisbane for once. Don’t think it’ll happen unless The RFL dig deep into their pockets and throw a load of cash at the NRL clubs.

I don't really see the point of the WCS even though our win over Brisbane was obviously a good night. It was still just a glamour friendly and was pretty meaningless really. The WCC should be compulsory though. That's a showpiece fixture.

The only way the Australians will agree to making it compulsory is to up the prize pool. I don't know what the current World Club Series prize pool is, but it's probably telling that it's not an easy figure to find on Google.

If all we can offer the NRL clubs in exchange for 40+hrs of flying is a split of gate receipts from a 15,000-20,000 attendance and a split of the case from whatever two-bob sponsor we can find, I don't blame them for being massively enthused.

Must say I have to agree with Joan now there's a first, I've often thought that some players who play in the WCC have had nothing to do with the success of the previous season and some who did don't get to partake, a great example being man of the match Mcguire watching from the stands whilst the fella playing just played in the million pound game. ?

That said the concept wouldn't last to long imagine a fully battle hardened Melbourne Storm against any Super League club scary thought.

We should play it there then. Better than sending Wigan and Hull over for no real reason. I'd be fuming if Wires were doing that, but would be delighted if we were playing in the WCC.

Same principle still applies. How big of a draw are our clubs over there? I'd suspect that the Smith-Thurston Testimonial that Melbourne have commited to is worth much more to them than a fixture with Leeds.

I would say a good chance if it went ahead simply because Bellamy isn't a fan of his players travelling across the world for a game outside the NRL.

He doesn't even like his players playing internationals.

Thurston /Smith testimonial game has been confirmed for 23rd February which I think will put paid to the WCC next year.

why dont leeds offer to travel to melbourne? after all we hear how they are the most profitable club in SL

Brisbane are the most profitable Club by some margin.

Melbourne Storm said they were not interested some time ago.
They would get at least 20k there if it was played down under more than once in a blue Moon

If it was played.... the Storm would put 30 + on Leeds if they were in the mood, it would be Souths v Saints only worse.

Don't get the Wigan/Hull surely they'd be better playing it at the other side of the world.

i did say SL as in superleague, not nrl

My apologies, I miss read your post.

It states on Hull's website in regard to the Hull v Wigan match

Hull and Wigan will then both return to the UK to participate in the World Club Challenge or Series on the weekend of 24/25 February, should either team qualify.
With the Thurston/Smith game taking place on the same weekend I cant see where the WCC would be fitted in

no worries we've all done it

This was before Melbourne basically stuck two fingers up at the WCC by hosting a testimonial game on the usual WCC weekend.

The question is now, what the chuff do we all do that weekend??

Should have put it stated when the Hull v Wigan was announced

Park Run?

NRL should fine Melbourne if they had any backbone. Having said that, it could really do with attracting a major sponsor and prize fund. I''m sure £250,000/£500,000 would make it a lot more attractive.

The sooner Cameron Smith packs it in the sooner RL can get on with expanding the international game, have no doubt he had a major say in this decision

Since he became head of the NRL players union we have seen the ANZAC test disappear, Australian players get at least one off season with no internationals every 4 years, and earlier this season he even threatened a world cup boycott to increase NRL player salaries

Aussie selectors should just stick 2 fingers up to the NRL players union and just say, If you don't want to play for your country , there are plenty of others who do. If anyone makes themselves unavailable for selection due to anything other than injury the they don't get selected until the next World Cup cycle.