The World Club Challenge is the highest club-level competition within Rugby League. Where champions from the Super League and the NRL go head to head. The World Club Challenge began in 1976 but the first recognised match was in 1989. This tournament has seen some excellent clashes, some of which we will cover in this article.
History of the World Club Challenge
The World Club Challenge became a platform for the champions of both the English and Australian top tiers to play each other. The first match was in 1976 and it was billed as a ‘one-off’ but the demand grew. An additional match was played over ten years later in 1987 between Wigan and Manly. From there development began to create the annual competition that we know today.
5 of the Biggest Matches
1) Wigan Warriors v Manly Sea Eagles (1987)
Score: Warriors 8 - 2 Eagles
In a historic first ever official World Club Challenge clash, Wigan Warriors earned a hard fought win over the Sea Eagles. Both clubs had excellent seasons and now it was finally time for the test to see wether England or Australia had the better league. From this, the World Club Challenge was set to become an important new addition to the rugby league calendar.
2) Wigan Warriors v Brisbane Broncos (1994)
Score: Warriors 20 - 14 Broncos
This showdown between Wigan Warriors and Brisbane Broncos was eagerly anticipated. It was the second year in a row both teams would face each other in this competition. In 1993, Broncos were very much the underdogs and were in a far better position to defend their title. However, Wigan were ready for a fight and they took their win on Australian turf.
3) St Helens v Sydney Roosters (2003)
Score: St Helens 0 - 38 Sydney Roosters
Two giants within their own right, St Helens and the Sydney Roosters engaged in an eagerly anticipated encounter. The Roosters had just won their first Premiership in 27 years and were looking in exceptionally good form. The Saints had dominated the Super League the previous season, looking like a solid team.
In the end, the Roosters were unplayable. It was an excellent win for the East Sydney team and an embarrassing night for not only St Helens fans, but also Super League fans.
4) Leeds Rhinos v Melbourne Storm (2010)
Score: Rhinos 10 - 18 Storm
This was quite a unique World Club Challenge encounter. Leeds and Melbourne had met previously in 2008, where Leeds won in a low scoring match (11-4). This meant that the 2010 WCC had the makings of a very tense and exciting game. During awful weather, it was a hard fought match for both sides, eventually Melbourne got the win. However, Melbourne were later found guilty of breaching their salary cap in 2009 so were subsequently stripped of their title.
5) Wigan Warriors v Cronulla Sharks (2017)
Score: Warriors 22 - 6 Sharks
The Wigan Warriors faced off against the Cronulla Sharks in what was quite an intense match, despite what the scoreline initially suggests. The Sharks had two tries disallowed after a video ref review, which caused a lot of frustration for the squad. Wigan did deserve their win, with Joe Burgess scoring a hat-trick of tries, proving to be too much for Cronulla. This was the first time an English side had won the World Club Challenge in five years.
Who Has the Most World Club Challenge Titles?
Among the number of rugby league greats, many clubs have distinguished themselves with multiple World Club Challenge titles.
Five-Time Champions:
Wigan Warriors: With victories in 1987, 1991, 1994, 2017, and are current champions having won in 2024.
Sydney Roosters: Emerging victorious in 1976, 2003, 2014, 2019, and 2020.
Three-Time Champions:
Leeds Rhinos: 2005, 2008, and 2012
St Helens: 2001, 2007, and 2023
Melbourne Storm: 2000, 2013, and 2018. They would have four titles if it wasn't for their 2010 title strip.
Bradford Bulls: 2002, 2004, and 2006, the early noughties were dominated by the Bulls.
Two-Time Champions:
Brisbane Broncos: 1992 and 1997
One-Hit Wonders:
Widnes Vikings: 1989
Manly Sea Eagles: 2009
St George Illawarra Dragons: 2011
South Sydney Rabbitohs: 2015
North Queensland Cowboys: 2016
Top 5 Players in World Club Challenge History:
1) Brett Morris
Position: Winger Team: Sydney Roosters (2013-present), St George Illawarra Dragons (2006-2014). Morris shares the top try scorer record with Ryan Hall, both having scored 5 tries in World Club Challenge matches. His precise running lines and creativity made him a standout performer in World Club Challenge matches.
2) Leroy Rivett
Position: Winger Team: Leeds Rhinos (1999-2004). His remarkable ability to find space, break the line and race towards the try-line made him a constant nuisance for defending teams.
3) Ryan Hall
Position: Winger
Team: Leeds Rhinos (2007-2018), Sydney Roosters (2019-2020).
Ryan had incredible form for scoring tries in World Club Challenges, his current record is 5 tries. Ryan is known for his physicality, strength, and aerial ability as a winger. He has been one of the most dominant wingers in Rugby League history and has solidified his reputation as a key player in his World Club Challenge appearances.
4) Brett Mullins
Position: Fullback / Winger Team: Canberra Raiders (1990-2000). Once described as ‘one of the most exciting attacking weapons in rugby league’, Brett Mullins was known for his pace and creative attacking flair. Both rival teams and even their fans feared Mullins when he had the ball.
5) Shaun Edwards
Position: Half-back / Scrum-half
Team: Wigan Warriors (1983-1997).
Known for his exceptional playmaking skills, vision, and tactical acumen as a halfback for the Warriors. His ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates, lead his team's attacking moves, and perform aggressively in defence made him a pivotal figure in not only the World Club Challenge, but also within Rugby League as a whole.
The Future
The World Club Challenge isn't just a tournament; it's an intense rivalry between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, although until very recent times, it has not always been taken seriously by the Australian teams. After two straight defeats for Penrith Panthers in 2023 and 2024, the Australians are finally seeing that the European teams mean business and there is real quality amongst the Northern shores. As it stands, Super League hold 15 WCC titles and NRL teams hold 14. 2025 should be an incredible clash and it is fully expected that the Aussies will turn up looking for revenge.