2001 World Club Challenge

Last updated

2001 (2001) World Club Challenge  ()
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The Reebok Stadium hosted the match
12Total
ST H Saintscolours.svg 61420
BRI Brisbane colours.svg 12618
Date26 January 2001
Stadium Reebok Stadium
Location Bolton, England
Man of the Match Sean Long Saintscolours.svg
Referee Stuart Cummings Flag of England.svg
Attendance16,041
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators
  2000
2002  

The 2001 World Club Challenge was contested between Super League V champions, St. Helens and 2000 NRL season premiers, the Brisbane Broncos. [1] The Broncos made the trip to England to play St Helens before the start of the 2001 NRL and Super League seasons and were beaten by two late drop goals (known as a field goal in Australia, but not to be confused with the archaic field goal) from the home side in the final minutes.

Contents

Background

St Helens

The 2000 Super League Grand Final was the conclusive and championship-deciding match of Super League V. It was contested by Wigan Warriors who had finished the regular season in 1s place, and St Helens R.F.C. who had finished in 2nd place, after both teams had played their way through the finals series. St Helens had played in the previous World Club Challenge, suffering a comprehensive defeat at the hands of the Melbourne Storm.

Brisbane Broncos

The 2000 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2000 NRL season. It was contested by the Brisbane Broncos, who had finished the regular season in 1st place, and the Sydney Roosters, who had finished in 2nd place, after both teams played their way through the finals series. Prior to the previous World Club Challenge, the Broncos had contested the three preceding it, winning twice.

Teams

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St Helens
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body Brisbane2001.png
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Brisbane Broncos
FB1 Paul Wellens
RW2 Sean Hoppe
RC3 Kevin Iro
LC4 Paul Newlove
LW5 Anthony Sullivan
SO6 Tommy Martyn
SH7 Sean Long
PR8 David Fairleigh
HK9 Keiron Cunningham
PR10 Sonny Nickle
SR11 Chris Joynt (c)
SR12 Peter Shiels
LF13 Paul Sculthorpe
Substitutions:
IC14 Tim Jonkers
IC15 Vila Matautia
IC16 John Stankevitch
IC17 Anthony Stewart
Coach:
Flag of England.svg Ian Millward
FB1 Darren Lockyer
LW2 Lote Tuqiri
RC3 Stuart Kelly
LC4 Michael De Vere
RW5 Wendell Sailor
FE6 Shaun Berrigan
HB7 Scott Prince
PR8 Shane Webcke
HK9 Luke Priddis
PR10 Petero Civoniceva
SR11 Gorden Tallis (c)
SR12 Dane Carlaw
LK13 Phillip Lee
Substitutions:
IC14 Shane Walker
IC15 Ashley Harrison
IC16 Brad Meyers
IC17 Chris Walker
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Bennett

Match details

The match was played in wintery conditions on the night of Friday the 26th of January at Reebok Stadium in Bolton, England before a crowd of 16,041. The Broncos players wore black armbands in memory of the club's co-founder Paul "Porky" Morgan who had died from a heart attack the previous day.

26 January 2001
St. Helens Saintscolours.svg 20 – 18 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Tries:
Chris Joynt
Sean Long
Paul Sculthorpe
Goals:
Sean Long (3)
Field Goals:
Sean Long (1)
Paul Sculthorpe (1)
(Report)
Tries:
Shaun Berrigan
Phillip Lee
Brad Meyers
Goals:
Michael De Vere (3)
Reebok Stadium, Bolton
Attendance: 16,041
Referee: Stuart Cummings Flag of England.svg
Player of the Match: Sean Long Saintscolours.svg

First half

The first try of the match was scored by the Broncos from close to the Saints' try-line when Shaun Berrigan, playing at five-eighth, burrowed over from dummy half. St. Helens answered with a try from their loose forward, Paul Sculthorpe. This was followed by the Brisbane lock, Phillip Lee scoring at the other end. The half-time score was 6 - 12 in favour of the Broncos.

Second half

Brisbane were again the first to score in the second half through Brad Meyers, giving the visitors a good lead. But a converted try from Saints' scrum-half, Sean Long put the home team back in it at 18 - 12. The scores were then levelled when St. Helens centre, Paul Newlove ran around Wendell Sailor and dashed downfield, passing back inside to his captain, Chris Joynt to score. In the final minutes of the match the Saints managed to wear down the clock without conceding any points as try-scorers Sculthorpe and Long kicked a drop/field goal each, leaving the score at the final siren at 20 - 18.

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