2010 World Club Challenge

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. 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.

2010 (2010) World Club Challenge  ()
Leeds Rhinos Melbourne Storm
(Super League) (National Rugby League)
10 18
12 Total
LEE 46 10
MEL 414 18
Date28 February 2010
StadiumElland Road
LocationLeeds, West Yorkshire, England
Cameron Smith, Melbourne
RefereesRichard Silverwood (England)
Attendance27,697
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators

Melbourne Storm won the game 18-10;[2] however later in the year were stripped of the title (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]

Background
Elland Road prior to the match.

Leeds Rhinos
Further information: 2009 Super League Grand Final and 2009 Leeds Rhinos season

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

Melbourne Storm
Further information: 2009 NRL Grand Final and 2009 Melbourne Storm season

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 was later stripped from the Storm due to salary cap breaches.

The Storm, despite being stripped of their two premierships, 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] In addition the prize money won was redistributed to Leeds.

Warm-up match

Melbourne played a warm-up game against the Harlequins RL Super League team at the Twickenham Stoop.[4] The match took place on Sunday 21 February - a week before the Storm played for the world title.[5] The event was dubbed the World City Challenge – London Series.[6] Melbourne were without Cooper Cronk, Brett White and Ryan Tandy, with both sides giving a number of youngsters a taste of first-team action.[7]

Teams
2010 World Club Challenge Teams
Leeds Rhinos Posit. 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 (c)
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 (c) 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
Tries:
Danny Maguire

Goals:
Kevin Sinfield (1)
Rob Burrow (2)		 [8] Tries:
Luke MacDougall
Anthony Quinn
Goals:
Cameron Smith (5)
Elland Road, Leeds
Attendance: 27,697
Referee: Richard Silverwood
Man of the Match: Cameron Smith (but later stripped due to Melbourne Storm's breach of the salary cap)

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, but he was later stripped of the award because of the Storm's salary cap breach.

References
  1. "Gillette Fusion to sponsor 2010 World Club Challenge". Super League. 20 November 2009. Archived from the original on 27 November 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  2. "Leeds 10-18 Melbourne". BBC Sport. 28 February 2010. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  3. "NRL report recommends Waldron ban - NRL.com". Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  4. "Quins to warm up Storm". Sky Sports. 12 November 2009. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  5. Staff writers (12 November 2009). "Quins announce Melbourne Storm match". inthenews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  6. "LondonRL launch sponsorship initiative". London RL. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  7. "Storm short for Rhinos test". Sky Sports. 9 December 2009. Archived from the original on 13 December 2009. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  8. (Report)
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