2001 World Club Challenge

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.

2001 (2001) World Club Challenge  ()
12 Total
ST H 614 20
BRI 126 18
Date26 January 2001
StadiumReebok Stadium
LocationBolton, England
RefereesStuart Cummings
Attendance16,041
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators

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

St Helens
Brisbane Broncos
FB1Paul Wellens
RW2Sean Hoppe
RC3Kevin Iro
LC4Paul Newlove
LW5Anthony Sullivan
SO6Tommy Martyn
SH7Sean Long
PR8David Fairleigh
HK9Keiron Cunningham
PR10Sonny Nickle
SR11Chris Joynt (c)
SR12Peter Shiels
LF13Paul Sculthorpe
Substitutions:
IC14Tim Jonkers
IC15Vila Matautia
IC16John Stankevitch
IC17Anthony Stewart
Coach:
Ian Millward
FB1Darren Lockyer
LW2Lote Tuqiri
RC3Stuart Kelly
LC4Michael De Vere
RW5Wendell Sailor
FE6Shaun Berrigan
HB7Scott Prince
PR8Shane Webcke
HK9Luke Priddis
PR10Petero Civoniceva
SR11Gorden Tallis (c)
SR12Dane Carlaw
LK13Phillip Lee
Substitutions:
IC14Shane Walker
IC15Ashley Harrison
IC16Brad Meyers
IC17Chris Walker
Coach:
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 20 – 18 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
Man of the Match: Sean Long

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.

References

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