Guest Writer - Andrew Clark
There was talk last year about the 2015 World Club Challenge to stay Down Under and expand to a 6 team competition. You'll probably think immediately to the failed 1997 twenty-two team tournament as soon as you've read the opening sentence. The words 'expand' and 'World Club Challenge' in the same sentence can send a shiver down your spine. It was announced by the NRL that the annual game will take place in England next year but I have an idea for 2016 and beyond.
For those who can't think back to 17 years ago, the 1997 World Club Challenge was contested in 2 hemispheres with each team playing 6 games each over 4 pools. There was a prize fund of £640,000 but the tournament never lived up to expectations. The NRL teams dominated the tournament and none of the northern hemisphere teams made it beyond the quarter finals. The viewing figures weren't great, especially over in the UK and I'd imagine that was down to the lack of competitive games.
Although, it'll go down in history as a huge flop, I think it's time to resurrect the expansion of the World Club Challenge. If we can combine the success of the Magic Weekend in the Super League with a small expansion of the World Club Challenge, I think it could take off.
If we could extend the season by 1 week, a World Club Challenge could realistically work. Good Friday could host the Super League Grand Final winners against the runner-up of the NRL and then followed by the NRL winners against the Super League runner-up. Easter Monday could host a third place playoff followed by the final. An academy international match between England and Australia could also be played between the 2 games on the Monday.
World Club Challenge