1997 World Club Championship
1997 World Club Championship | |
---|---|
Trophy won by Brisbane Broncos | |
Duration | 6 June – 17 October 1997 |
Teams | 22 |
Matches played | 68 |
Average attendance | 7,989 |
Attendance | 543,258 |
Champions | ![]() |
Runners-up | ![]() |
Top point-scorer(s) | ![]() |
Top try-scorer(s) | ![]() |
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]
Format
[edit]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
[edit]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.
Australian Super League
[edit]- Pool A
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 270 | 52 | +218 | 12 | Advance to Quarter-finals |
2 | ![]() |
6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 268 | 82 | +186 | 12 | |
3 | ![]() |
6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 230 | 54 | +176 | 12 | |
4 | ![]() |
6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 256 | 120 | +136 | 12 | |
5 | ![]() |
6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 302 | 108 | +194 | 10 | |
6 | ![]() |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 218 | 121 | +97 | 8 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Point difference; 3) Points scored.
- Pool B
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 226 | 50 | +176 | 12 | Advance to Quarter-finals |
2 | ![]() |
6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 228 | 92 | +136 | 10 | |
3 | ![]() |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 170 | 68 | +102 | 8 | |
4 | ![]() |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 148 | 104 | +44 | 8 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Point difference; 3) Points scored.
Super League
[edit]- Pool A
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 89 | 212 | −123 | 4 | Advance to Quarter-finals |
2 | ![]() |
6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 136 | 238 | −102 | 2 | |
3 | ![]() |
6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 82 | 228 | −146 | 0 | |
4 | ![]() |
6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 96 | 270 | −174 | 0 | Advance to Elimination final |
5 | ![]() |
6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 78 | 256 | −178 | 0 | |
6 | ![]() |
6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 56 | 340 | −284 | 0 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Point difference; 3) Points scored.
- Pool B
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 48 | 90 | −42 | 2 | Advance to Elimination final |
2 | ![]() |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 94 | 138 | −44 | 2 | |
3 | ![]() |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 52 | 130 | −78 | 2 | |
4 | ![]() |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 44 | 130 | −86 | 2 | |
5 | ![]() |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 54 | 168 | −114 | 2 | |
6 | ![]() |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 52 | 116 | −64 | 0 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Point difference; 3) Points scored.
Results
[edit]Round 1
[edit]- June 6–9
Home | Score | Away | Match information | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day & Time (local) | Venue | Referee | Attendance | |||
![]() |
42 – 22 | ![]() |
Friday 6 June, 7:30 pm | ANZ Stadium, Brisbane | Bill Harrigan | 18,193 |
![]() |
14 – 42 | ![]() |
Friday 6 June, 7:30 pm | Knowsley Road, St. Helens | Stuart Cummings | 8,911 |
![]() |
42 – 20 | ![]() |
Saturday 7 June, 7:30 pm | Stockland Stadium, Townsville | Steve Clark | 14,561 |
![]() |
50 – 8 | ![]() |
Sunday 8 June, 2:00 pm | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | Tim Mander | 11,346 |
![]() |
70 – 6 | ![]() |
Sunday 8 June, 2:30 pm | Bruce Stadium, Canberra | Brian Grant | 7,780 |
![]() |
12 – 28 | ![]() |
Sunday 8 June, 3:00 pm | Charlety Stadium, Paris | Steve Presley | 3,500 |
![]() |
16 – 24 | ![]() |
Sunday 8 June, 3:30 pm | Wheldon Road, Castleford | Robert Connolly | 3,590 |
![]() |
12 – 40 | ![]() |
Sunday 8 June, 6:35 pm | Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington | Russell Smith | 3,378 |
![]() |
18 – 22 | ![]() |
Monday 9 June, 7:30 pm | Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney | Graham Annesley | 10,680 |
![]() |
16 – 20 | ![]() |
Monday 9 June, 7:45 pm | Odsal Stadium, Bradford | David Campbell | 14,378 |
Byes: ![]() ![]() | ||||||
References: RLP [6] |
Round 2
[edit]- June 13–16
Round 3
[edit]20 June 1997 | ||||
Adelaide Rams | 42 – 14 | Oldham Bears | Adelaide Rams, Adelaide | Attendance: 13,852 |
Bradford Bulls | 10 – 30 | Cronulla Sharks | Odsal Stadium, Bradford | Attendance: 10,756 |
21 June 1997 | ||||
North Queensland Cowboys | 44 – 8 | Salford City Reds | Stockland Stadium, Townsville | Attendance: 15,508 |
Paris St-Germain | 24 – 0 | Perth Reds | Charlety Stadium, Paris | Attendance: 2,500 |
22 June 1997 | ||||
Brisbane Broncos | 76 – 0 | Halifax Blue Sox | ANZ Stadium, Brisbane | Attendance: 11,358 |
Canberra Raiders | 56 – 22 | Wigan Warriors | Bruce Stadium, Canberra | Attendance: 9,098 |
Canterbury Bulldogs | 34 – 18 | London Broncos | Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney | Attendance: 4,000 |
23 June 1997 | ||||
Warrington Wolves | 28 – 56 | Auckland Warriors | Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington | Attendance: 4,428 |
Sheffield Eagles | 4 – 40 | Hunter Mariners | Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield | Attendance: 2,500 |
Round 4
[edit]18 July 1997 | ||||
Penrith Panthers | 48 – 12 | Warrington Wolves | Penrith Football Stadium, Penrith | Attendance: 5,642 |
Leeds Rhinos | 22 – 14 | Adelaide Rams | Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds | Attendance: 11,269 |
Oldham Bears | 20 – 16 | North Queensland Cowboys | Boundary Park, Oldham | Attendance: 2,961 |
19 July 1997 | ||||
Perth Reds | 48 – 12 | Sheffield Eagles | WACA Ground, Perth | Attendance: 7,429 |
20 July 1997 | ||||
Auckland Warriors | 64 – 14 | Bradford Bulls | Ericsson Stadium, Auckland | Attendance: 13,000 |
Hunter Mariners | 26 – 8 | Castleford Tigers | Topper Stadium, Newcastle | Attendance: 3,379 |
Halifax Blue Sox | 22 – 40 | Canterbury Bulldogs | Thrum Hall, Halifax | Attendance: 3,500 |
Wigan Warriors | 4 – 30 | Brisbane Broncos | Central Park, Wigan | Attendance: 12,816 |
21 July 1997 | ||||
Cronulla Sharks | 28 – 12 | St. Helens | Shark Park, Sydney | Attendance: 7,751 |
London Broncos | 38 – 18 | Canberra Raiders | The Stoop, London | Attendance: 7,819 |
Round 5
[edit]25 July 1997 | ||||
Auckland Warriors | 70 – 6 | St. Helens | Ericsson Stadium, Auckland | Attendance: 8,500 |
Oldham Bears | 2 – 18 | Adelaide Rams | Boundary Park, Oldham | Attendance: 3,315 |
26 July 1997 | ||||
Cronulla Sharks | 44 – 0 | Warrington Wolves | Shark Park, Sydney | Attendance: 6,112 |
27 July 1997 | ||||
Hunter Mariners | 32 – 0 | Paris St-Germain | Topper Stadium, Newcastle | Attendance: 2,210 |
Perth Reds | 24 – 14 | Castleford Tigers | WACA Ground, Perth | Attendance: 6,114 |
London Broncos | 16 – 34 | Brisbane Broncos | The Stoop, London | Attendance: 9,846 |
Salford City Reds | 14 – 24 | North Queensland Cowboys | The Willows, Salford | Attendance: 7,448 |
Halifax Blue Sox | 12 – 42 | Canberra Raiders | Thrum Hall, Halifax | Attendance: 3,620 |
28 July 1997 | ||||
Penrith Panthers | 54 – 14 | Bradford Bulls | Penrith Football Stadium, Penrith | Attendance: 5,332 |
Wigan Warriors | 31 – 24 | Canterbury Bulldogs | Central Park, Wigan | Attendance: 10,280 |
Round 6
[edit]1 August 1997 | ||||
Perth Reds | 18 – 8 | Paris St-Germain | WACA Ground, Perth | Attendance: 5,160 |
London Broncos | 22 – 44 | Canterbury Bulldogs | The Stoop, London | Attendance: 6,923 |
2 August 1997 | ||||
Cronulla Sharks | 40 – 12 | Bradford Bulls | Shark Park, Sydney | Attendance: 8,272 |
3 August 1997 | ||||
Auckland Warriors | 16 – 4 | Warrington Wolves | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | Attendance: 6,500 |
Hunter Mariners | 58 – 12 | Sheffield Eagles | Topper Stadium, Newcastle | Attendance: 1,965 |
Leeds Rhinos | 14 – 48 | North Queensland Cowboys | Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds | Attendance: 12,224 |
Salford City Reds | 14 – 12 | Adelaide Rams | The Willows, Salford | Attendance: 6,995 |
Wigan Warriors | 10 – 50 | Canberra Raiders | Central Park, Wigan | Attendance: 12,504 |
4 August 1997 | ||||
Penrith Panthers | 32 – 26 | St. Helens | Penrith Football Stadium, Penrith | Attendance: 5,000 |
Halifax Blue Sox | 10 – 54 | Brisbane Broncos | Thrum Hall, Halifax | Attendance: 3,255 |
Playoffs
[edit]Bracket
[edit]Elimination qualifier | Quarter-finals | Semi finals | Final | ||||||||||||||||
![]() | 66 | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 42 | ![]() | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
![]() | 4 | ![]() | 22 | ||||||||||||||||
![]() | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 62 | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 36 | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 40 |
Elimination qualifer
[edit]20 August 1997 | ||||
St. Helens | 42 – 4 | Paris St-Germain | Knowsley Road, St. Helens | Attendance: 3,641 |
Quarter-finals
[edit]3 October 1997 | ||||
Auckland Warriors | 62 – 14 | Bradford Bulls | Ericsson Stadium, Auckland | Attendance: 12,063 |
Wigan Warriors | 18 – 22 | Hunter Mariners | Central Park, Wigan | Attendance: 9,553 |
4 October 1997 | ||||
Brisbane Broncos | 66 – 12 | St. Helens | ANZ Stadium, Brisbane | Attendance: 6,438 |
6 October 1997 | ||||
London Broncos | 16 – 40 | Cronulla Sharks | The Stoop, London | Attendance: 6,239 |
Semi-finals
[edit]10 October 1997 | ||||
Brisbane Broncos | 22 – 16 | Auckland Warriors | ANZ Stadium, Brisbane | Attendance: 9,686 |
11 October 1997 | ||||
Cronulla Sharks | 18 – 22 | Hunter Mariners | Shark Park, Sydney | Attendance: 5,214 |
Final
[edit]1997 | World Club Championship final|||||||||||||
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![]() Mount Smart Stadium hosted the match | |||||||||||||
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Date | 18 October 1997 | ||||||||||||
Stadium | Mount Smart Stadium | ||||||||||||
Location | Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||
Referee | Graham Annesley ![]() | ||||||||||||
Attendance | 10,300 | ||||||||||||
Broadcast partners | |||||||||||||
Broadcasters | |||||||||||||
Commentators | |||||||||||||
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 26–0 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
[edit]![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Brisbane Broncos
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Hunter Mariners
|
|
|
Match details
[edit]Brisbane Broncos ![]() |
36 – 12 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Tries: 7 D Smith ![]() Walters ![]() Plath ![]() Sailor ![]() Renouf ![]() Goals: 4 De Vere ![]() Walker ![]() |
1st: 26–4 2nd: 10–8 [11] |
Tries: 3 Zisti ![]() Carlaw ![]() Goals: 0 K Iro (0/2) Swain (0/1) |
Aftermath
[edit]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
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ 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.
- ^ Hadfield, Dave (16 October 1997). "The short but amazing life of Hunter Mariners". The Independent. independent.co.uk. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
- ^ Wilson, Andy (1 June 1997). "Ambitious project means global dawning". The Observer. London, United Kingdom. p. 52.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Paul (6 June 1997). "Show time in the world acid test". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. p. B7.
- ^ "Visa invests in world club championship". The Times. London, United Kingdom. 5 June 1997. p. 47.
- ^ a b "World Club Championship - Fixtures". Sunday Mirror. London, United Kingdom. 1 June 1997. p. 69.
- ^ a b c "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Hadfield, Dave (18 October 1997). "Rugby League: World Club Championship Final - Broncos' early burst leaves Mariners marooned". The Independent. London, United Kingdom. p. 23.
- ^ Drzyzga, Ben (18 October 1997). "Broncos burst Mariners' bubble". Newcastle Herald. Newcastle, New South Wales: Newcastle Newspapers Pty Limited. p. 22.
- ^ 1997 WCC Final - Brisbane vs Hunter
- ^ Robinson, John (1997). Super League Official Annual 1998. World International. p. 42. ISBN 0-7498-3389-0.
External links
[edit]- "Global show hits Knowsley Road" - article by Dave Hadfield at The Independent (London), June 6, 1997
- 1997 World Club Challenge at hunterlink.net.au
- "World Club Championship Final – Broncos' early burst" – article by Dave Hadfield at The Independent (London), Oct 18, 1997
- 1997 World Club Challenge at superleague.co.uk
- 1997 World Club Challenge at Rugby League Project