2009 World Club Challenge
Encyclopedia
The 2009 World Club Challenge
was contested by Super League XIII
champions, Leeds Rhinos
, competing in their second consecutive World Club Challenge, and 2008 NRL Premiers, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
. For the first time since 2003, the Australian champions defeated their English counterparts.
The match featured 28 penalties and two punch-ups which resulted in rival props Josh Perry
(Manly) and Jamie Peacock
(Leeds) sin-binned
in the 20th minute. with Manly's three quick tries in the first seven minutes after the break proving decisive. Leeds scored three tries of their own towards the end of the match, but by then it was too late.
before contesting the world Club Challenge, with wins in all of them.
clinched the 2008 National Rugby League Premiership with a 40-0 thrashing of the Melbourne Storm
- an Australian grand final record, earning them a place in the World Club Challenge. Five months later they travelled to England, while other NRL clubs were starting pre-season trial matches against one another.
The week before the World Club Challenge the Sea Eagles had a warm-up match against London's Super League
club, Harlequins RL, winning 34-26.
, a game their coach Des Hasler played in. They lost to Wigan that night and were hoping to win their first World Club title this time around. Leeds had played in the Challenge twice before, defeating their Australian counterparts on both occasions. After their victory over the Melbourne Storm
the previous year, the Rhinos were hoping to become the first team in history to win consecutive titles.
The first 20 minutes of the match were played from end to end in a very even contest. A legal tackle
by Manly's Anthony Watmough
in the 16th minute on Leeds' pint sized scrum-half Rob Burrow
knocked him out and he played no further part in the match. In the 20th minute a brawl erupted, front rowers Jamie Peacock and Josh Perry the main combatants. Both players were sent to the sin-bin and a penalty awarded to Manly. Sea Eagles captain Matt Orford
opted to attack Leeds' line and Brett Stewart
broke through the defence from dummy-half to score the first points just after a quarter of the match had passed. Orford converted the try so Manly had a 6 nil lead. Seven minutes later the Sea Eagles were again down in the Rhinos' half when Orford put a short ball onto the chest of a flying Anthony Watmough from 30 metres out to race through the defence and score. Orford's conversion pushed the Australian club's lead out to 12 nil. Manly could have put the game beyond doubt seven minutes before half-time when Watmough charged onto a pass and broke through flimsy defense before popping a soft pass to a flying Brett Stewart who somehow managed to drop the ball with a try under the posts seemingly seconds away. In the 37th minute Leeds were just into Manly's half when they kicked ahead, regathered and got the ball to Danny McGuire
who made it over the line but had the ball stripped from his grasp by Matt Orford in a one-on-one tackle before he could ground it. Jamie Jones-Buchanan
was there to press the ball to the turf however, so the try
was given by the video referee. Kevin Sinfield
missed the relatively easy conversion, so Leeds were down 4-12. The score did not change during the remaining few minutes of the half.
Leeds started the 2nd half making a small break down the left hand side in the first minute after Manly hooker Heath L'Estrange
had given away a penalty. In the resulting play, McGuire got the ball to Hall who passed inside to Keith Senior
who had the ball stripped on-on-one by Jamie Lyon
. The 2nd minute of play saw Manly make a break from the half way line with Adam Cuthbertson
getting the ball out to Michael Robertson
left wing. Leeds winger (and former Manly player) Scott Donald
attempted to tackle Robertson but he managed to get a pass away. Leeds centre Carl Ablett
failed to gather the loose ball and managed to knock the ball straight into the waiting hands of Brett Stewart. The Manly fullback picked the ball up 12m out from the line and with no one to beat scored his second try. Orford missed the conversion, and the score was 16-4 in favour of the visiting team. The Sea Eagles scored again one minute later as they were returning the ball from the kick-off. Michael Robertson made another break down the right wing and centre kicked ahead for Brett Stewart who came close to scoring before being brought down by Ryan Hall. This then gave Watmough the chance to score his second try from first receiver before Leeds' defence could regather. Orford kicked the extras so Manly had gotten away to a 22-4 lead. When returning the following kick-off as well the Sea Eagles scored again, this time Shane Rodney
made a break 25m from his own line and got to the Leeds 40m line before finding L'Estrange in support who in turn popped a pass to Steve Matai
who had an easy 20m run to the tryline. Manly had scored their 3rd try in only 6 minutes and 45 seconds of the second half. Orford missed the conversion so Manly lead was 26-4. In the 64th minute, after Leeds got repeat sets of six down near Manly's line, they moved the ball from one side of the field out to the other, a quick no-look pass from Ali Lautiiti sending Keith Senior over the line. Sinfield kicked the extras so the Rhinos were down 16 points with fifteen minutes remaining. After 71 and a half minutes, 30 metres out from Manly's line, Lautiiti made a run from dummy-half down the left side and threw another deft no-look pass to Ryan Hall who scored in the corner. Sinfield's kick from the sideline bounced through off one of the posts, so Leeds were 10 points down with seven minutes of the match remaining. Another fight broke out in the 75th minute and again Leeds were penalised. The Sea Eagles opted to take the kick for goal, which Orford did successfully. This made their lead 12 points with only 3 minutes remaining. Leeds got one more try in the final minute of the game, Keith Senior making a break from 60 metres out down the left wing before finding Danny McGuire in support to score in the corner just seconds before the final hooter. Sinfield's sideline conversion attempt was missed, so the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles had won the World Club Challenge for the first time, by a score of 28-20. Second-rower Anthony Watmough was named man-of-the-match.
World Club Challenge
The World Club Challenge is an annual rugby league football match held between the champions of the Australasian National Rugby League and the European Super League competitions to determine the world's best rugby league club...
was contested by Super League XIII
Super League XIII
Engage Super League XIII was the official name, due to sponsorship, for the 2008 Super League season by Engage Mutual. Twelve teams competed for the Minor Premiership over 27 rounds after which, the top 6 finishing teams entered the play-offs where they competed for a place in the Grand Final and...
champions, Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
, competing in their second consecutive World Club Challenge, and 2008 NRL Premiers, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
. For the first time since 2003, the Australian champions defeated their English counterparts.
The match featured 28 penalties and two punch-ups which resulted in rival props Josh Perry
Josh Perry
Josh Perry is an Australian professional rugby league player for St Helens RLFC in the Super League competition...
(Manly) and Jamie Peacock
Jamie Peacock
James "Jamie" Peacock is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Leeds Rhinos of the European Super League...
(Leeds) sin-binned
Penalty box
The penalty box is the area in ice hockey, rugby league, rugby union and some other sports where a player sits to serve the time of a given penalty, for an offense not severe enough to merit outright expulsion from the contest...
in the 20th minute. with Manly's three quick tries in the first seven minutes after the break proving decisive. Leeds scored three tries of their own towards the end of the match, but by then it was too late.
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos qualified through being the 2008 Super League champions, defeating St Helens 24 - 16 in the Grand Final. The Yorkshire club had already completed their first three rounds of Super League XIVSuper League XIV
The 2009 Super League season is the fourteenth season of rugby league since the Super League format was introduced in 1996...
before contesting the world Club Challenge, with wins in all of them.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesManly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
clinched the 2008 National Rugby League Premiership with a 40-0 thrashing of the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
- an Australian grand final record, earning them a place in the World Club Challenge. Five months later they travelled to England, while other NRL clubs were starting pre-season trial matches against one another.
The week before the World Club Challenge the Sea Eagles had a warm-up match against London's Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
club, Harlequins RL, winning 34-26.
Teams
| Leeds Rhinos Leeds Rhinos Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League... |
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia... |
|
|---|---|---|
| 3. Lee Smith Lee Smith (rugby league) Lee Smith is an English rugby league player who is currently in his second stint playing for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. He had a brief spell in rugby union with the London Wasps in the Guinness Premiership.-Early career:... |
Fullback | 1. Brett Stewart Brett Stewart Brett Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback known for pace and his prolific try-scoring... |
| 2. Scott Donald Scott Donald Scott Albert Donald is a retired Australian professional rugby league footballer and played for the Leeds Rhinos of the European Super League competition... |
Winger | 2. Michael Robertson Michael Robertson (rugby league) Michael Robertson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for London Broncos of Super League... |
| 18. Carl Ablett Carl Ablett Carl Ablett is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Leeds Rhinos of Europe's Super League competition. Carl made numerous appearances in the second half of the 06/07 season after recovering from injury, he was part of the Grand Final 2007 winning squad selected by Tony... |
Centre | 3. Jamie Lyon Jamie Lyon Jamie Lyon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League... |
| 4. Keith Senior Keith Senior Keith Senior is an English professional rugby league or who most recently played for the Leeds Rhinos in Super League. He has won every honour in the English domestic game. He holds the record for the most Super League appearances & the most Super League tries... |
Centre | 4. Steve Matai Steve Matai Stephen "Steve" Matai is a professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League. He plays as a centre. He is a New Zealand international of Samoan Heritage... |
| 5. Ryan Hall Ryan Hall (rugby league) Ryan Hall is an English professional Rugby League Winger for the Leeds in Super League. He has played his entire professional career to date with Leeds, winning the 2008, 2009 &2011 Super League Championships with them.-Club career:... |
Winger | 5. David Williams David Williams (rugby league) David Williams is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League. He plays on the wing and can also play in the centres... |
| 6. Danny McGuire Danny McGuire Danny McGuire is an English professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. His preferred position is at /. He has played his entire career to date with the Rhinos, having come through the club's Academy.... |
Stand Off / Five-eighth | 6. Chris Bailey Chris Bailey (rugby league) Chris Bailey is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Harlequins RL of Super League. He plays as a five-eighth and can also lock the scrum... |
| 7. Rob Burrow Rob Burrow Rob Burrow is an English professional rugby league footballer with the Leeds Rhinos of Super League. He has represented both England and Great Britain as a hooker/half. He has spent his whole career to date at Leeds, having won the Super League championship with them five times... |
Scrum Half / Halfback | 7. Matt Orford Matt Orford Matthew Orford is an Australian professional rugby league player, last playing for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League competition... (c) |
| 8. Kylie Leuluai Kylie Leuluai Kylie Leuluai is a professional rugby league footballer currently contracted to the Leeds Rhinos of Super League... |
Prop | 8. Jason King |
| 14. Matt Diskin Matt Diskin Matt Diskin is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Bradford Bulls of Super League. A Great Britain and England international representative hooker, he played ten years with Leeds Rhinos, having won four Super League championships with the club, before moving to the Bulls for the... |
Hooker | 9. Matt Ballin Matt Ballin Matthew Ballin is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League . He primarily plays at hooker.-Early years:... |
| 10. Jamie Peacock Jamie Peacock James "Jamie" Peacock is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Leeds Rhinos of the European Super League... |
Prop | 10. Josh Perry Josh Perry Josh Perry is an Australian professional rugby league player for St Helens RLFC in the Super League competition... |
| 11. Jamie Jones-Buchanan Jamie Jones-Buchanan Jamie Jones-Buchanan is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays for Leeds of Super League. An England international representative second-rower, he has played his entire professional career to date with Leeds and has won four Super League championships with the club.His Leeds... |
2nd Row | 11. Anthony Watmough Anthony Watmough Anthony Watmough is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the National Rugby League... |
| 17. Ian Kirke Ian Kirke Ian Kirke is an English professional rugby league footballer for English club Leeds Rhinos of Super League. He made his Leeds debut on March 5, 2006 when Leeds played Castleford Tigers. During the close to season 2006 he had surgery on both his shoulders to fix a long term injury. Attended Hornsea... |
2nd Row | 12. Glenn Hall |
| 13. Kevin Sinfield Kevin Sinfield Kevin Sinfield is an English professional rugby league player. He is the captain of the Leeds Rhinos in Super League. His recognised position is /, although he can cover both /, and . He has represented both England and Great Britain at international level.-Career:Sinfield began his career at... (c) |
Loose Forward / Lock | 13. Glenn Stewart Glenn Stewart Glenn Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Stewart has played all of his club football to date with Manly,... |
| 12. Ali Lauitiiti Ali Lauitiiti Ali Lauitiiti is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for English club Leeds Rhinos in the European Super League. Both a Samoa and New Zealand international representative forward, he previously played in the National Rugby League for the Warriors... |
Interchange | 14. Heath L'Estrange Heath L'Estrange Heath L'Estrange is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Bradford Bulls. Prior to his career with Bradford, he won the 2008 National Rugby League grand final with Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles... |
| 16. Ryan Bailey | Interchange | 15. Adam Cuthbertson Adam Cuthbertson Adam Cuthbertson, born 24 February 1985 is an Australian rugby league player, currently playing for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League. His position is usually in the forwards, able to play in both the front-row and second-row, he can also play lock-forward.-Playing... |
| 19. Luke Burgess Luke Burgess (rugby league) Luke Burgess is an English rugby league footballer currently playing for Australian NRL side South Sydney RabbitohsBorn in Wakefield, he played for the Leeds Rhinos having previously been on loan to Harlequins RL and Doncaster... |
Interchange | 16. George Rose |
| 23. Kallum Watkins Kallum Watkins Kallum Watkins is an English professional Rugby League player for the Leeds Rhinos. He can play as a centre, a winger or a fullback.Watkins began his career in the Salford City Reds Junior Academy, before signing for the Leeds Rhinos in 2007, after impressing during a trial.In his first season in... |
Interchange | 18. Shane Rodney Shane Rodney Shane Rodney is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Harlequins RL of Super League. He previously played for the Penrith Panthers, winning the 2003 NRL premiership with them. and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles whom he won the 2011 NRL Grand Final with... |
| Brian McClennan Brian McClennan Brian "Bluey" McClennan is the head coach for the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League . He was previously the head coach of the New Zealand national team and then England's Leeds Rhinos club... |
Coach | Des Hasler Des Hasler Des Hasler is an Australian former professional rugby league player and current head coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He played in 309 matches in a first-grade career spanning 16 seasons. Most of his career was spent with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with whom he won two premierships... |
Match details
The last time the Sea Eagles had played in England was in the 1987 World Club Challenge1987 World Club Challenge
The 1987 World Club Challenge was only the second game of its kind to be played between Britain's and Australia's respective domestic rugby league champions...
, a game their coach Des Hasler played in. They lost to Wigan that night and were hoping to win their first World Club title this time around. Leeds had played in the Challenge twice before, defeating their Australian counterparts on both occasions. After their victory over the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
the previous year, the Rhinos were hoping to become the first team in history to win consecutive titles.
The first 20 minutes of the match were played from end to end in a very even contest. A legal tackle
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
by Manly's Anthony Watmough
Anthony Watmough
Anthony Watmough is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the National Rugby League...
in the 16th minute on Leeds' pint sized scrum-half Rob Burrow
Rob Burrow
Rob Burrow is an English professional rugby league footballer with the Leeds Rhinos of Super League. He has represented both England and Great Britain as a hooker/half. He has spent his whole career to date at Leeds, having won the Super League championship with them five times...
knocked him out and he played no further part in the match. In the 20th minute a brawl erupted, front rowers Jamie Peacock and Josh Perry the main combatants. Both players were sent to the sin-bin and a penalty awarded to Manly. Sea Eagles captain Matt Orford
Matt Orford
Matthew Orford is an Australian professional rugby league player, last playing for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League competition...
opted to attack Leeds' line and Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback known for pace and his prolific try-scoring...
broke through the defence from dummy-half to score the first points just after a quarter of the match had passed. Orford converted the try so Manly had a 6 nil lead. Seven minutes later the Sea Eagles were again down in the Rhinos' half when Orford put a short ball onto the chest of a flying Anthony Watmough from 30 metres out to race through the defence and score. Orford's conversion pushed the Australian club's lead out to 12 nil. Manly could have put the game beyond doubt seven minutes before half-time when Watmough charged onto a pass and broke through flimsy defense before popping a soft pass to a flying Brett Stewart who somehow managed to drop the ball with a try under the posts seemingly seconds away. In the 37th minute Leeds were just into Manly's half when they kicked ahead, regathered and got the ball to Danny McGuire
Danny McGuire
Danny McGuire is an English professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. His preferred position is at /. He has played his entire career to date with the Rhinos, having come through the club's Academy....
who made it over the line but had the ball stripped from his grasp by Matt Orford in a one-on-one tackle before he could ground it. Jamie Jones-Buchanan
Jamie Jones-Buchanan
Jamie Jones-Buchanan is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays for Leeds of Super League. An England international representative second-rower, he has played his entire professional career to date with Leeds and has won four Super League championships with the club.His Leeds...
was there to press the ball to the turf however, so the try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
was given by the video referee. Kevin Sinfield
Kevin Sinfield
Kevin Sinfield is an English professional rugby league player. He is the captain of the Leeds Rhinos in Super League. His recognised position is /, although he can cover both /, and . He has represented both England and Great Britain at international level.-Career:Sinfield began his career at...
missed the relatively easy conversion, so Leeds were down 4-12. The score did not change during the remaining few minutes of the half.
Leeds started the 2nd half making a small break down the left hand side in the first minute after Manly hooker Heath L'Estrange
Heath L'Estrange
Heath L'Estrange is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Bradford Bulls. Prior to his career with Bradford, he won the 2008 National Rugby League grand final with Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles...
had given away a penalty. In the resulting play, McGuire got the ball to Hall who passed inside to Keith Senior
Keith Senior
Keith Senior is an English professional rugby league or who most recently played for the Leeds Rhinos in Super League. He has won every honour in the English domestic game. He holds the record for the most Super League appearances & the most Super League tries...
who had the ball stripped on-on-one by Jamie Lyon
Jamie Lyon
Jamie Lyon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League...
. The 2nd minute of play saw Manly make a break from the half way line with Adam Cuthbertson
Adam Cuthbertson
Adam Cuthbertson, born 24 February 1985 is an Australian rugby league player, currently playing for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League. His position is usually in the forwards, able to play in both the front-row and second-row, he can also play lock-forward.-Playing...
getting the ball out to Michael Robertson
Michael Robertson
Michael Robertson is the founder and former CEO of MP3.com, which quickly became one of the most popular Internet music sites. In the years following his departure from MP3.com, Robertson launched several small start-up companies, including Linspire, SIPphone, MP3tunes, and Ajax 13...
left wing. Leeds winger (and former Manly player) Scott Donald
Scott Donald
Scott Albert Donald is a retired Australian professional rugby league footballer and played for the Leeds Rhinos of the European Super League competition...
attempted to tackle Robertson but he managed to get a pass away. Leeds centre Carl Ablett
Carl Ablett
Carl Ablett is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Leeds Rhinos of Europe's Super League competition. Carl made numerous appearances in the second half of the 06/07 season after recovering from injury, he was part of the Grand Final 2007 winning squad selected by Tony...
failed to gather the loose ball and managed to knock the ball straight into the waiting hands of Brett Stewart. The Manly fullback picked the ball up 12m out from the line and with no one to beat scored his second try. Orford missed the conversion, and the score was 16-4 in favour of the visiting team. The Sea Eagles scored again one minute later as they were returning the ball from the kick-off. Michael Robertson made another break down the right wing and centre kicked ahead for Brett Stewart who came close to scoring before being brought down by Ryan Hall. This then gave Watmough the chance to score his second try from first receiver before Leeds' defence could regather. Orford kicked the extras so Manly had gotten away to a 22-4 lead. When returning the following kick-off as well the Sea Eagles scored again, this time Shane Rodney
Shane Rodney
Shane Rodney is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Harlequins RL of Super League. He previously played for the Penrith Panthers, winning the 2003 NRL premiership with them. and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles whom he won the 2011 NRL Grand Final with...
made a break 25m from his own line and got to the Leeds 40m line before finding L'Estrange in support who in turn popped a pass to Steve Matai
Steve Matai
Stephen "Steve" Matai is a professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League. He plays as a centre. He is a New Zealand international of Samoan Heritage...
who had an easy 20m run to the tryline. Manly had scored their 3rd try in only 6 minutes and 45 seconds of the second half. Orford missed the conversion so Manly lead was 26-4. In the 64th minute, after Leeds got repeat sets of six down near Manly's line, they moved the ball from one side of the field out to the other, a quick no-look pass from Ali Lautiiti sending Keith Senior over the line. Sinfield kicked the extras so the Rhinos were down 16 points with fifteen minutes remaining. After 71 and a half minutes, 30 metres out from Manly's line, Lautiiti made a run from dummy-half down the left side and threw another deft no-look pass to Ryan Hall who scored in the corner. Sinfield's kick from the sideline bounced through off one of the posts, so Leeds were 10 points down with seven minutes of the match remaining. Another fight broke out in the 75th minute and again Leeds were penalised. The Sea Eagles opted to take the kick for goal, which Orford did successfully. This made their lead 12 points with only 3 minutes remaining. Leeds got one more try in the final minute of the game, Keith Senior making a break from 60 metres out down the left wing before finding Danny McGuire in support to score in the corner just seconds before the final hooter. Sinfield's sideline conversion attempt was missed, so the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles had won the World Club Challenge for the first time, by a score of 28-20. Second-rower Anthony Watmough was named man-of-the-match.
Significance
- Manly became the first Australian team in six years to win the World Club Challenge, since the Sydney RoostersSydney RoostersThe Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
defeated St Helens RLFC in 20032003 World Club ChallengeThe 2003 World Club Challenge match was contested on Sunday, 16 February by National Rugby League season 2002 premiers, the Sydney Roosters and Super League VII premiers, St Helens...
. They are only the fourth side from Australia to have won a final on British soil in the history of the event – Brisbane BroncosBrisbane BroncosThe Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
(1992), Melbourne StormMelbourne StormThe Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
(2000, 2010) and Sydney Roosters (1976, 2003) being the other three. - Manly won their first World Club Challenge at their second attempt having lost the 1987 World Club Challenge1987 World Club ChallengeThe 1987 World Club Challenge was only the second game of its kind to be played between Britain's and Australia's respective domestic rugby league champions...
to WiganWigan WarriorsWigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
. - Failure to defend their World Club Challenge title from 20082008 World Club ChallengeThe 2008 Carnegie World Club Challenge was contested between Super League XII champions, the Leeds Rhinos and National Rugby League season 2007 premiers, the Melbourne Storm. For the fifth consecutive year the English home team defeated their Australian counterparts.-Leeds Rhinos:Leeds Rhinos...
meant the Leeds Rhinos' first loss in the 2009 competitive season. They would have been the first club to have gained two consecutive titles had they won.