2017 World Club Series
The 2017 World Club Series (also known as the 2017 Dacia World Club Series) was the third staging of the World Club Series and featured two Super League teams and two National Rugby League (NRL) teams. The series included the World Club Challenge, a one-off match between the champions of the Super League and NRL.
| 2017 Dacia World Club Series | |
|---|---|
| League | World Club Series |
| Duration | 2 games |
| Teams | 4 |
| Highest attendance | 21,011  Wigan Warriors vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
| Lowest attendance | 12,082  Warrington Wolves vs Brisbane Broncos |
| Broadcast partners |  Sky Sports BBC Sport SLTV.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Nine Network  beIN Sport Fox Soccer Plus Sport Klub |
| 2017 Series | |
| World Champions | Wigan Warriors |
| Runners-up | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
| Biggest home win | Warrington Wolves 27–18 Brisbane Broncos |
| Biggest away win | Warrington Wolves 27–18 Brisbane Broncos |
| Top point-scorer(s) | Joe Burgess (12) |
| Top try-scorer(s) | Joe Burgess (3) |
Background
In 2016 it was suggested that the 2017 Series could be expanded to 8 teams. Two games would be played in Australia and two would be played in the UK with the World Club Challenge alternating each year.
Plans to expand the series were quashed when the NRL Grand Final runners up Melbourne Storm announced they would not be participating due to it interfering with their pre-season.[1] The Brisbane Broncos were the only side that finished in the top 8 from that season that accepted an invitation to play meaning the series would be reduced to only two teams. Challenge Cup winners Hull F.C. would consequently not be able to participate as no game could be arranged.
Series details
Series Score
| Winners | Score | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
 Super League |
2–0 | NRL |
Game 1: Warrington Vs Brisbane
18 February[2] |
| Warrington Wolves |
27 – 18 | Brisbane Broncos |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Kevin Brown (2') 1 Ryan Atkins (14') 1 Matthew Russell (18') 1 Tom Lineham (39') 1 Goals: Declan Patton 5/6 (3', 7' pen, 15', 19', 66' pen) Field Goals: Declan Patton (63') 1 |
[3] 1st: 24 – 6 2nd: 3 – 12 |
Tries: 1 (26') Corey Oates 1 (44') James Roberts 1 (72') David Mead Goals: 3/3 Jordan Kahu (27', 46', 72') |
Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington Attendance: 12,082 Referee: Phil BenthamMan of the Match: Kevin Brown |
Warrington are the first Super League team to beat a NRL team in 5 years, and 8 games.
World Club Challenge
19 February |
| Wigan Warriors |
22 – 6 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Joe Burgess (3', 23', 80') 3 Oliver Gildart (45') 1 Goals: Morgan Escare 2/3 (25',46') Sam Powell 1/1 (80') |
[4] 1st: 10 – 0 2nd: 12 – 6 |
Tries: 1 (59') Jesse Ramien Goals: 1/1 James Maloney (60') |
This series was the first victory for Super League since the conception of the World Club Series, after the NRL won the last two series.