The Carnegie World Club Challenge kicks off on Friday, with English champions St Helens taking on Australia's finest, Brisbane Broncos.This year's WCC has followed the trend set by previous years in attracting the usual annual argument over the validity of the fixture.
The marketers at Red Hall bill this as the game that will decide "the best team in the world", yet it's hardly a claim that has many backers. Since the competition was reincarnated in 2000, only Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters have taken the trophy back down under, both sides trouncing St Helens in the process. In the meantime, Brisbane, Newcastle, Penrith, Canterbury and Wests Tigers have all failed, whether they tried in the first place is debatable.
This year, Brisbane claim that they are actually trying this time. They've had the game put back three weeks so that they can send what they feel is their strongest side and on Thursday they got off the plane and straight onto Brewery Field in Bridgend for a warm-up fixture with NL2 side Celtic Crusaders, all with the intention of going into Friday's clash at Bolton to avenge their 20-18 defeat to the same side at the same venue in 2001.
But nevertheless, regardless of Friday's eventual result, the usual platitudes and clichés will be emanating the length on the M62. Here, we aim to clear the confusion with our World Club Championship "quick response" guide.
Should St Helens win by a big margin: Brisbane weren't trying.
Should St Helens win by a small margin: It's a meaningless fixture that disrupts valuable NRL preparation time and has no place in the RL calendar.
Should Brisbane win by a small margin: Brisbane weren't trying
Should Brisbane win by more than a converted try: It is a sad indictment on the state of the British game and yet further proof that we will never, ever be able to compete with the mighty Australians. All bow down before your ruthless Australian overlords.
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