2000 World Club Challenge

2000(2000)World Club Challenge()
TheJJB Stadiumhosted the match
St. Helens Melbourne Storm (SL) (NRL) 6 44
1 2 Total ST H 2 4 6 MEL 20 24 44
Date	22 January 2000
Stadium	JJB Stadium
Location	Wigan,England
Man of the Match	Brett Kimmorley
Referee	Stuart Cummings
Attendance	13,394
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters	Sky Sports
Commentators	Eddie Hemmings Mike Stephenson

The2000World Club Challengewas contested by1999 NRL seasonpremiers, theMelbourne Stormand 1999'sSuper League IVchampions,St. Helens.The match was played on 22 January atJJB Stadium,Wigan before a crowd of 13,394. The Melbourne Storm defeated St Helens 44 - 6.This was the first World Club Challenge since1997and theSuper League war.

Background

St Helens

Further information:1999 Super League Grand Final

The1999 Super League Grand Finalwas the conclusive and championship-deciding game of theSuper League IVseason. The match was played between English clubsSt. HelensandBradford Bullson Saturday 9 October 1999, atOld Trafford,Manchester, UK.

Melbourne Storm

Further information:1999 NRL Grand Final

The1999 NRL Grand Finalwas the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the1999 NRL season.It was contested by the competition's two newest clubs: theMelbourne Storm,competing in only its second year (having finished the regular season in 3rd place); and theSt George Illawarra Dragons,in their first year as a joint-venture club (having finished the regular season in 6th place), after both sides eliminated the rest of the top eight during the finals.

A new rugby league world record crowd of 107,999 was atStadium Australiafor the game. The attendance, which saw 67,142 more people attend than had done so for the1998 NRL Grand Finalat theSydney Football Stadium,broke the record attendance for a Grand Final, eclipsing the previous record of 78,065 set in1965.After trailing 0-14 at half time, the Melbourne Storm defeated theSt George Illawarra Dragons20-18.

Venue

With the game set to be played inEngland,theRugby Football LeaguechoseWigan's home venue, theJJB Stadiumwhich could hold 25,333, as the host venue in preference to St Helens' home ground ofKnowsley Roadwhich could only hold 17,500.

Teams

Both teams were missing players following their 1999 victories.Anthony Sullivan,Vila MatautiaandKeiron Cunninghamwere notable absences for St Helens through injury,with Melbourne missing their retired former captainGlenn Lazarus,and the injuredMatt Geyer,Rodney HoweandBen Roarty.

The match was played with four interchange players with a maximum of eight substitutions after agreement was reached between the two clubs.At the time the NRL competition had unlimited substitutions with four players on the interchange bench.

St Helens

Melbourne Storm

FB 1 Paul Atcheson LW 2 Chris Smith RC 3 Paul Newlove LC 4 Kevin Iro RW 15 Sean Hoppe SO 20 Tommy Martyn SH 7 Sean Long PR 10 Julian O'Neill HK 17 Paul Wellens PR 12 Sonny Nickle SR 11 Chris Joynt(c) SR 18 Bryan Henare LF 13 Paul Sculthorpe Substitutions: IC 8 Apollo Perelini IC 14 Fereti Tuilagi IC 19 Anthony Stewart IC 26 John Stankevitch Coach: Ellery Hanley

FB 1 Robbie Ross RW 2 Brad Watts RC 3 Aaron Moule LC 4 Tony Martin LW 5 Marcus Bai FE 6 Scott Hill HB 7 Brett Kimmorley PR 8 Wayne Evans HK 9 Richard Swain PR 10 Robbie Kearns(c) SR 11 Paul Marquet SR 12 Stephen Kearney LK 13 Matt Rua Substitutions: IC 14 Danny Williams IC 15 Tasesa Lavea IC 16 Russell Bawden IC 18 Dane Morgan Coach: Chris Anderson

Match summary

Melbourne started strongly with halfbackBrett KimmorleysendingAaron Mouleinto a gap in the St Helens defence to score a try in the fifth minute. The NRL premiers extending their lead to 10–0 in just the 11th minute following a try toWayne Evans.St Helens lost centreKevin Iroto a thigh injury during the first half, while captainChris Joyntwas feeling the effects of the flu and did not return after half time.The hosts first points coming via a penalty goal toSean Longafter a high tackle byScott Hill.

The Storm would dominate the latter stages of the first half, scoring tries throughMarcus Baiin the 30th minute, and Hill just before the break to take a 20–2 lead.

Storm forwardsDanny WilliamsandDane Morganwere forced to deny allegations of eye-gouging raised by Saints stand-offTommy Martynstemming from an incident in the 48th minute.Martyn lodged a formal complaint with refereeStuart Cummings,with both players later not charged by match officials.

Melbourne led by man of the matchBrett Kimmorleyripped apart St Helens after the break, scoring a further try throughDane Morganin his first game for the club, with Hill scoring his second try for the night, backing up some brilliant passing fromStephen KearneyandRobbie Ross.The fullback would score the first of his two tries soon after.

New Zealand internationalSean Hoppescored a late try for St Helens eight minutes from full time,but it was mere consolation, with Melbourne scoring their eighth try a few minutes later to take the final score to 44–6, the widest margin in the history of the previous editions of the World Club Challenge.

Despite the final margin, St Helens coachEllery Hanleyclaimed after the match that Melbourne were "not a better side than us at all, although the scoreline says they were. We just didn't defend and stop their offloads."Melbourne coachChris Andersonwas quoted that he "expected a hard game. It was a new style of football for St Helens and they struggled."

Scoreboard

2000 World Club Challenge

Saturday, 22 January 18:00GMT(UTC+0)

St. Helens	6 – 44	Melbourne Storm
Tries:1 Hoppe72' Goals:1 Longpen 20'(1/2)	1st: 2–20 2nd: 4–24 Report	Tries:8 Hill39',57' Ross66',75' Moule5' Evans11' Bai30' Morgan50' Goals:6 Watts11',40',51',57',66',75'(6/8)

JJB Stadium,Wigan Attendance: 13,394 Referee:Stuart Cummings Player of the Match:Brett Kimmorley