1997 World Club Championship

Last updated

1997 World Club Championship
World Club Challenge.JPG
Trophy won by Brisbane Broncos
Duration6 June – 17 October 1997
Teams22
Matches played68
Average attendance7,989
Attendance543,258
Champions Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos  (2nd title)
Runners-up Hunter colours.svg Hunter Mariners
Top point-scorer(s) Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Ryan Girdler (118 points)
Top try-scorer(s) Brisbane colours.svg Steve Renouf (13)
  1994
2000  

The 1997 World Club Championship was an expansion of the World Club Challenge concept by Super League. The rugby competition was restructured to include all 22 clubs from the Australasian Super League and the Super League championships and was known as the Visa World Club Championship due to sponsorship. As it was contested over six rounds in two hemispheres, with A$1 million prize money (GBP 640,000), the competition was prohibitively expensive to stage, with suggestions that it cost A$6 million. [1] This coupled with the poor ratings and attendances that were achieved both in Australia and Europe reportedly resulted in a loss over A$5 million, and the World Club Challenge was not staged again for a number of years. No British teams progressed further than the quarter-finals, with two Australian teams reaching the final (played at the Ericsson Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand): the dominant Brisbane Broncos club and the ill-fated Hunter Mariners. [2]

Contents

Format

The competition was held during the second season of the European Super League competition and the inaugural season of the Australasian Super League season. Both competitions paused their competitions for the first three rounds in June, and again for the second round of matches in July-August.

Teams in each competition were seeded into two pools to ensure that the leading teams would play each other. [3] The Australasian teams were split into a pool of six teams that contained the teams that had finished highly in the 1996 ARL season, and a pool of four teams that included the expansion Super League franchises Hunter Mariners and Adelaide Rams. The European Super League teams were split into two pools of six teams in order of the final positions of the clubs during the 1996 Super League season. Promoted club Salford Reds joined Pool B.

With only four teams in the Australasian Pool B, the six European teams had two bye weekends.

The competition saw five Australasian teams tour Europe for each set of three match weekends, with five European teams simultaneously touring Australasia.

Following the completion of the pool matches, the top three teams from both of the competitions Pool A progressed to the quarter finals, with the winner of the Australasian Pool B. The winner of the European Pool B faced the fourth-placed team from Pool A in an elimination qualifier for a place in the quarter finals. [4] The playoffs took place after the completion of the respective Super League competitions.

Credit card company Visa was announced as the competition sponsor just before the European launch of the championship at Huddersfield. The sponsorship was described as a "substantial investment to help offset the estimated £2 million operational costs." [5]

Pool stage tables

The Australasian and European teams were each divided into two pools for the 1997 World Club Challenge. Each pool had six teams, with the exception of Australasia B, which had the two lowest placed Super League-aligned teams and the two newly formed teams: the Hunter Mariners and the Adelaide Rams. The finals series was contested between the top three teams in Australasia Pool A and Europe Pool A, and the top team from Australasia Pool B and Europe Pool B.

Super League (Australia and New Zealand)

Pool A
PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 660027052+21812Advance to Quarter-finals
2 Auckland colours.svg Auckland Warriors 660026882+18612
3 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla Sharks 660023054+17612
4 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers 6600256120+13612
5 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders 6501302108+19410
6 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury Bulldogs 6402218121+978
Source: RLP
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Point difference; 3) Points scored.
Pool B
PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1 Hunter colours.svg Hunter Mariners 660022650+17612Advance to Quarter-finals
2 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys 650122892+13610
3 Adelaide colours.svg Adelaide Rams 640217068+1028
4 Western Reds colours.svg Perth Reds 6402148104+448
Source: RLP
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Point difference; 3) Points scored.

Super League (Great Britain and France)

Pool A
PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 6204892121234Advance to Quarter-finals
2 Broncoscolours.png London Broncos 61051362381022
3 Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls 6006822281460
4 Saintscolours.svg St Helens 6006962701740Advance to Elimination final
5 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 6006782561780
6 Faxcolours.svg Halifax Blue Sox 6006563402840
Source: RLP
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Point difference; 3) Points scored.
Pool B
PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1 ParisSGcolours.png Paris Saint-Germain 41034890422Advance to Elimination final
2 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 410394138442
3 Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham Bears 410352130782
4 Redscolours.svg Salford City Reds 410344130862
5 Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield Eagles 4103541681142
6 Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers 400452116640
Source: RLP
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Point difference; 3) Points scored.

Results

Round 1

June 6–9
HomeScoreAwayMatch information
Day & Time (local)VenueRefereeAttendance
Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 42 – 22 Broncoscolours.png London Broncos Friday 6 June, 7:30 pm ANZ Stadium, Brisbane Bill Harrigan 18,193
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 14 – 42 Auckland colours.svg Auckland Warriors Friday 6 June, 7:30 pm Knowsley Road, St. Helens Stuart Cummings 8,911
North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys 42 – 20 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos Saturday 7 June, 7:30 pm Stockland Stadium, Townsville Steve Clark14,561
Adelaide colours.svg Adelaide Rams 50 – 8 Redscolours.svg Salford Reds Sunday 8 June, 2:00 pm Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Tim Mander 11,346
Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders 70 – 6 Faxcolours.svg Halifax Blue Sox Sunday 8 June, 2:30 pm Bruce Stadium, Canberra Brian Grant7,780
ParisSGcolours.png Paris St-Germain 12 – 28 Hunter colours.svg Hunter Mariners Sunday 8 June, 3:00 pm Charlety Stadium, ParisSteve Presley3,500
Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers 16 – 24 Western Reds colours.svg Perth Reds Sunday 8 June, 3:30 pm Wheldon Road, Castleford Robert Connolly3,590
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 12 – 40 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla Sharks Sunday 8 June, 6:35 pm Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington Russell Smith3,378
Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury Bulldogs 18 – 22 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors Monday 9 June, 7:30 pm Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney Graham Annesley 10,680
Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls 16 – 20 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers Monday 9 June, 7:45 pm Odsal Stadium, Bradford David Campbell14,378
Byes: Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield Eagles, Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham Bears
References: RLP [6]

Round 2

June 13–16
HomeScoreAwayMatch information
Day & Time (local)VenueRefereeAttendance
Adelaide colours.svg Adelaide Rams 34 – 8 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos Friday 13 June, 8:00 pm Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Steve Clarke14,630
Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers 12 – 42 Hunter colours.svg Hunter Mariners Friday 13 June, 7:30 pm Wheldon Road, Castleford Stuart Cummings 3,087
North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys 54 – 16 Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham Bears Saturday 14 June, 7:30 pm Stockland Stadium, Townsville Graham Annesley 12,631
Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls 16 – 20 Auckland colours.svg Auckland Warriors Saturday 14 June, 6:00 pm Odsal Stadium, Bradford Russell Smith13,133
Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders 66 – 20 Broncoscolours.png London Broncos Sunday 15 June, 2:30 pm Bruce Stadium, Canberra Tim Mander 6,471
Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury Bulldogs 58 – 6 Faxcolours.svg Halifax Blue Sox Sunday 15 June, 2:30 pm Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney Brian Grant5,034
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 22 – 52 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers Sunday 15 June, 3:00 pm Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington Robert Connolly3,850
Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield Eagles 26 – 22 Western Reds colours.svg Perth Reds Sunday 15 June, 6:35 pm Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield John Connolly2,065
Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 34 – 0 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors Monday 16 June, 7:30 pm ANZ Stadium, Brisbane Bill Harrigan 14,833
Saintscolours.svg St Helens 8 – 48 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla Sharks Monday 16 June, 7:45 pm Knowsley Road, St Helens David Campbell8,039
Byes: ParisSGcolours.png Paris St-Germain, Redscolours.svg Salford Reds
References: RLP [6]

Round 3

June 20–23
HomeScoreAwayMatch information
Day & Time (local)VenueRefereeAttendance
Adelaide colours.svg Adelaide Rams 42 – 14 Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham Bears Friday 20 June, 8:00 pm Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Graham Annesley 13,852
Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield Eagles 4 – 40 Hunter colours.svg Hunter Mariners Friday 20 June, 7:30 pm Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield Russell Smith2,350
Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls 10 – 30 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla Sharks Friday 20 June, 7:30 pm Odsal Stadium, Bradford Stuart Cummings10,756
North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys 44 – 8 Redscolours.svg Salford Reds Saturday 21 June, 7:30 pm Stockland Stadium, Townsville Brian Grant15,508
ParisSGcolours.png Paris St-Germain 24 – 0 Western Reds colours.svg Perth Reds Saturday 21 June, 7:00 pm Charlety Stadium, ParisDavid Campbell3,500
Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 76 – 0 Faxcolours.svg Halifax Blue Sox Sunday 22 June, 2:30 pm ANZ Stadium, Brisbane Tim Mander 11,358
Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders 56 – 22 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors Sunday 22 June, 2:30 pm Bruce Stadium, Canberra Steve Clark9,098
Saintscolours.svg St Helens 30 – 50 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers Sunday 22 June, 6:35 pm Knowsley Road, St Helens John Connolly6,671
Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury Bulldogs 34 – 18 Broncoscolours.png London Broncos Monday 23 June, 7:30 pm Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney Bill Harrigan 7,272
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 28 – 56 Auckland colours.svg Auckland Warriors Monday 23 June, 7:45 pm Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington Steve Presley4,428
Byes: Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers, Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos
References: RLP [6]

Round 4

July 18–21
HomeScoreAwayMatch information
Day & Time (local)VenueRefereeAttendance
Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers 48 – 12 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves Friday 18 July, 7:30 pm Penrith Football Stadium, Penrith Brian Grant5,642
Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham Bears 20 – 16 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys Friday 18 July, 7:30 pm Boundary Park, Oldham Robert Connolly2,961
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 22 – 14 Adelaide colours.svg Adelaide Rams Friday 18 July, 7:30 pm Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds Russell Smith11,269
Western Reds colours.svg Perth Reds 48 – 12 Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield Eagles Saturday 19 July, 7:30 pm WACA Ground, Perth Steve Clark7,429
Auckland colours.svg Auckland Warriors 76 – 0 Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls Sunday 20 July, 2:30 pm Ericsson Stadium, Auckland Bill Harrigan 12,500
Hunter colours.svg Hunter Mariners 26 – 8 Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers Sunday 20 July, 2:30 pm Topper Stadium, Newcastle Tim Mander 3,379
Faxcolours.svg Halifax Blue Sox 22 – 40 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury Bulldogs Sunday 20 July, 3:00 pm Thrum Hall, Halifax Steve Presley3,300
Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 4 – 30 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Sunday 20 July, 6:35 pm Central Park, Wigan Stuart Cummings13,476
Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla Sharks 28 – 12 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens Monday 21 July, 7:30 pm Shark Park, Sydney Graham Annesley 7,721
Broncoscolours.png London Broncos 38 – 18 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders Monday 21 July, 7:30 pm The Stoop, LondonJohn Connolly7,819
Byes: ParisSGcolours.png Paris St-Germain, Redscolours.svg Salford Reds
References: RLP [6]

Round 5

July 25–28
HomeScoreAwayMatch information
Day & Time (local)VenueRefereeAttendance
Auckland colours.svg Auckland Warriors 70 – 6 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens Friday 25 July, 7:30 pm Ericsson Stadium, Auckland Steve Clark18,354
Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham Bears 2 – 18 Adelaide colours.svg Adelaide Rams Friday 25 July, 7:30 pm Boundary Park, Oldham John Connolly3,315
Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla Sharks 44 – 0 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves Saturday 26 July, 7:30 pm Shark Park, Sydney Tim Mander 6,112
Hunter colours.svg Hunter Mariners 32 – 0 ParisSGcolours.png Paris St-Germain Sunday 27 July, 2:30 pm Topper Stadium, Newcastle Graham Annesley 2,210
Western Reds colours.svg Perth Reds 24 – 14 Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers Sunday 27 July, 2:30 pm WACA Ground, Perth Brian Grant12,500
Faxcolours.svg Halifax Blue Sox 12 – 42 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders Sunday 27 July, 3:00 pm Thrum Hall, Halifax Robert Connolly3,620
Redscolours.svg Salford City Reds 14 – 24 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys Sunday 27 July, 3:00 pm The Willows, Salford Steve Presley7,448
Broncoscolours.png London Broncos 16 – 34 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Sunday 27 July, 6:35 pm The Stoop, LondonStuart Cummings9,846
Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers 54 – 14 Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls Monday 28 July, 7:30 pm Penrith Football Stadium, Penrith Bill Harrigan 5,336
Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 31 – 24 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury Bulldogs Monday 28 July, 7:45 pm Central Park, Wigan Russell Smith10,280
Byes: Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos, Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield Eagles
References: RLP [6]

Round 6

August 1–4
HomeScoreAwayMatch information
Day & Time (local)VenueRefereeAttendance
Western Reds colours.svg Perth Reds 18 – 8 ParisSGcolours.png Paris St-Germain Friday 1 August, 6:30 pm WACA Ground, Perth Tim Mander 5,690
Broncoscolours.png London Broncos 22 – 44 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury Bulldogs Friday 1 August, 7:30 pm The Stoop, LondonJohn Connolly6,923
Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla Sharks 40 – 12 Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls Saturday 2 August, 7:30 pm Shark Park, Sydney Brian Grant8,272
Auckland colours.svg Auckland Warriors 16 – 4 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves Sunday 3 August, 2:30 pm Lancaster Park, Christchurch Graham Annesley 5,500
Hunter colours.svg Hunter Mariners 58 – 12 Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers Sunday 3 August, 2:30 pm Topper Stadium, Newcastle Steve Clark1,965
Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 12 – 50 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders Sunday 3 August, 3:00 pm Central Park, Wigan Steve Presley12,504
Redscolours.svg Salford City Reds 14 – 12 Adelaide colours.svg Adelaide Rams Sunday 3 August, 6:35 pm The Willows, Salford Stuart Cummings6,995
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 14 – 48 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys Sunday 3 August, 8:00 pm Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds Russell Smith12,224
Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers 32 – 26 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens Monday 4 August, 7:30 pm Penrith Football Stadium, Penrith Bill Harrigan 5,303
Faxcolours.svg Halifax Blue Sox 10 – 54 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Monday 4 August, 7:45 pm Thrum Hall, Halifax Robert Connolly3,255
Byes: Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers, Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham Bears
References: RLP [6]

Playoffs

Bracket

Elimination qualifier Quarter-finals Semi finals Final
Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 66
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 42 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 12
ParisSGcolours.png Paris St-Germain 4 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 22
Auckland colours.svg Auckland Warriors 16
Auckland colours.svg Auckland Warriors 62
Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls 14
Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 36
Hunter colours.svg Hunter Mariners 12
Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 18
Hunter colours.svg Hunter Mariners 22
Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla Sharks 18
Hunter colours.svg Hunter Mariners 22
Broncoscolours.png London Broncos 16
Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla Sharks 40

Elimination qualifier

Wednesday, 13 August St. Helens Saintscolours.svg 42 – 4 ParisSGcolours.png Paris St-Germain Knowsley Road, St. Helens
7:45 pm

Attendance: 3,641
Referee: Russell Smith

Quarter-finals

Friday, 3 October Auckland Warriors Auckland colours.svg 62 – 14 Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls Ericsson Stadium, Auckland

Attendance: 12,063
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Friday, 3 October Wigan Warriors Wigancolours.svg 18 – 22 Bullscolours.svg Hunter Mariners Central Park, Wigan

Attendance: 9,553
Referee: Russell Smith
Saturday, 4 October Brisbane Broncos Brisbane colours.svg 66 – 12 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens ANZ Stadium, Brisbane

Attendance: 6,438
Referee: Steve Clark
Saturday, 4 October London Broncos Broncoscolours.png 16 – 40 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla Sharks The Stoop, London

Attendance: 6,239
Referee: Stuart Cummings

Semi-finals

Friday, 10 October Brisbane Broncos Brisbane colours.svg 22 – 16 Auckland colours.svg Auckland Warriors ANZ Stadium, Brisbane
19:30 AEST (UTC+10)
Tries:
Walker Ru ball.svg (2)
Tallis Ru ball.svg
Walters Ru ball.svg
Goals:
Walker Rugby penalty.svg (3)
1st: 10–10
2nd: 12–6
Report
Tries:
Oudenryn Ru ball.svg (2)
Endacott Ru ball.svg
Goals:
Ridge Rugby penalty.svg (2)

Attendance: 9,686
Referee: Graham Annesley
Saturday, 11 October Cronulla Sharks Cronulla colours.svg 18 – 22 Hunter colours.svg Hunter Mariners Shark Park, Sydney
19:30 AEST (UTC+10)
Tries:
Ettingshausen Ru ball.svg
Richardson Ru ball.svg
Rogers Ru ball.svg
Goals:
Rogers Rugby penalty.svg (3)
1st: 12–12
2nd: 6–10
Report
Tries:
Kimmorley Ru ball.svg (2)
Doherty Ru ball.svg
Zisti Ru ball.svg
Goals:
K Iro Rugby penalty.svg (2)
Swain Rugby penalty.svg (1)

Attendance: 5,214
Referee: Bill Harrigan

Final

1997 (1997) World Club Championship final
EricssonStadium00.jpg
Mount Smart Stadium hosted the match
12Total
BRI Brisbane colours.svg 261036
HUN Hunter colours.svg 4812
Date18 October 1997
Stadium Mount Smart Stadium
LocationAuckland, New Zealand
Referee Graham Annesley Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Attendance10,300
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators
  1994
2000  

In their only year of existence, this would be the only final that the Hunter Mariners would appear in.

Three tries in 12 minutes from Brisbane Broncos centre Darren Smith put the Broncos in a strong position in the first half to lead 260 inside 30 minutes, with the Hunter Mariners only score a try to Nick Zisti just before the break. [7]

After the interval, the Mariners came close to scoring, but were denied twice by the video referee. [7] John Carlaw and Zisti would score tries to reduce the margin to 14 points, [8] [9] but two late tries to the Broncos through Wendell Sailor and Steve Renouf gave the Brisbane side a dominant victory. [7]

The Broncos collected A$1 million for winning the competition, with the Mariners collecting A$500,000 which the club split 50-50 with the players. [10]

Teams

Kit left arm goldborder.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body BrisbaneBroncos1997.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm goldborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks band claret.png
Kit socks long.svg
Brisbane Broncos
Kit left arm SLMariners.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body SLMariners.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm SLMariners.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks color 3 stripes yellow.png
Kit socks long.svg
Hunter Mariners
FB1 Darren Lockyer
RW18 Michael De Vere
RC13 Darren Smith
LC4 Steve Renouf
LW5 Wendell Sailor
FE6 Kevin Walters
HB7 Allan Langer (c)
PR21 Shane Webcke
HK9 John Plath
PR23 Andrew Gee
SR11 Gorden Tallis
SR10 Brad Thorn
LK12 Peter Ryan
Substitutions:
IC14 Ben Walker
IC2 Michael Hancock
IC15 Tonie Carroll
IC33 Phillip Lee
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Bennett
FB1 Robbie Ross
RW3 Nick Zisti
LC6 Brad Godden
RC4 Kevin Iro
LW5 John Carlaw
FE21 Scott Hill
HB20 Brett Kimmorley
PR31 Anthony Brann
HK9 Robbie McCormack (c)
PR14 Troy Stone
SR16 Darrien Doherty
SR12 Paul Marquet
LK55 Tyran Smith
Substitutions:
IC2 Keith Beauchamp
IC10 Tim Maddison
IC11 Tony Iro
IC18 Richard Swain
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Graham Murray

Match details

1997 World Club Challenge Final
Friday, 17 October
19:30 NZST (UTC+12)
Brisbane Broncos Brisbane colours.svg 36 – 12 Hunter colours.svg Hunter Mariners
Tries:7
D Smith Ru ball.svg 18', 24', 28'
Walters Ru ball.svg 4'
Plath Ru ball.svg 12'
Sailor Ru ball.svg 74'
Renouf Ru ball.svg 79'
Goals:4
De Vere Rugby penalty.svg 5', 13', 29'(3/5)
Walker Rugby penalty.svg 75'(1/2)
1st: 26–4
2nd: 10–8
[11]
Tries:3
Zisti Ru ball.svg 35', 64'
Carlaw Ru ball.svg 53'
Goals:0
K Iro (0/2)
Swain (0/1)
Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 10,300
Referee: Graham Annesley Flag of Australia (converted).svg

Aftermath

The dominance of the Australasian sides in the competition led to the Rugby Football League appointing Joe Lydon to head a commission to provide an explanation. [12] The general conclusion was that the Australian sides were no more skillful than the European teams, the main difference as it had been in international football since the late 1970s, was fitness, something that they were working on by the time of the season ending Super League Test series between the Super League Australians and the Great Britain Lions in England in November.

See also

References

  1. Mascord, Steve (17 October 1997). "Gold Coast hunts the Mariners". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, New South Wales: John Fairfax Publications Pty Limited. p. 45.
  2. Hadfield, Dave (16 October 1997). "The short but amazing life of Hunter Mariners". The Independent . independent.co.uk. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  3. Wilson, Andy (1 June 1997). "Ambitious project means global dawning". The Observer. London, United Kingdom. p. 52.
  4. Fitzpatrick, Paul (6 June 1997). "Show time in the world acid test". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. p. B7.
  5. "Visa invests in world club championship". The Times. London, United Kingdom. 5 June 1997. p. 47.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "World Club Championship - Fixtures". Sunday Mirror. London, United Kingdom. 1 June 1997. p. 69.
  7. 1 2 3 "Rugby League: World Club C'ship: Broncos on top of the world Brisbane Broncos 36 Hunter Mariners 12". The Guardian . London, United Kingdom. 18 October 1997. p. 10:1.
  8. Mascord, Steve (18 October 1997). "In-limbo Mariners fall gamely to Broncos". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, New South Wales: John Fairfax Publications Pty Limited. p. 64.
  9. Hadfield, Dave (18 October 1997). "Rugby League: World Club Championship Final - Broncos' early burst leaves Mariners marooned". The Independent. London, United Kingdom. p. 23.
  10. Drzyzga, Ben (18 October 1997). "Broncos burst Mariners' bubble". Newcastle Herald. Newcastle, New South Wales: Newcastle Newspapers Pty Limited. p. 22.
  11. 1997 WCC Final - Brisbane vs Hunter
  12. Robinson, John (1997). Super League Official Annual 1998. World International. p. 42. ISBN   0-7498-3389-0.