1997 World Club Championship

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 6 rounds in 2 hemispheres, with A$1,000,000 prize money (GBP 640,000), the competition was prohibitively expensive to stage. This coupled with the poor ratings and attendances that were achieved both in Australia and Europe reportedly resulted in a loss over $5,000,000, 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.[1]

1997 World Club Championship
Tournament details
Dates6 June-11 October
Teams22
Final positions
Champions Brisbane Broncos (2nd title)
Runners-up Hunter Mariners

1997 tournament tables

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

Pool A

ClubPlayedWonLostDrawnForAgainstDiff.Points
Brisbane Broncos66002705221812
Auckland Warriors66002688218612
Cronulla Sharks66002305417612
Penrith Panthers660025612013612
Canberra Raiders651030210819410
Canterbury Bulldogs6420218121978

Pool B

ClubPlayedWonLostDrawnForAgainstDiff.Points
Hunter Mariners66002265017612
North Queensland Cowboys65102289213610
Adelaide Rams6420170681028
Perth Reds6420148104448

Super League

Pool A

ClubPlayedWonLostDrawnForAgainstDiff.Points
Wigan Warriors624089212-1234
London Broncos6150136238-1022
Bradford Bulls606082228-1460
St Helens606096270-1740
Warrington Wolves606078256-1780
Halifax Blue Sox606056340-2840

Pool B

ClubPlayedWonLostDrawnByeForAgainstDiff.Points
Paris Saint-Germain413024890-422
Leeds Rhinos4130264138-742
Oldham Bears4130252130-782
Salford City Reds4130244130-862
Sheffield Eagles4130254168-1142
Castleford Tigers4040252116-640

Matches

Round 1

6 June 1997
Brisbane Broncos42 – 22London BroncosANZ Stadium, BrisbaneAttendance: 18,193
St. Helens14 – 42Auckland WarriorsKnowsley Road, St. HelensAttendance: 8,911
7 June 1997
North Queensland Cowboys42 – 20Leeds RhinosStockland Stadium, TownsvilleAttendance: 14,561
8 June 1997
Adelaide Rams50 – 8Salford City RedsAdelaide Oval, AdelaideAttendance: 11,346
Canberra Raiders70 – 6Halifax Blue SoxBruce Stadium, CanberraAttendance: 7,780
Paris St-Germain12 – 28Hunter MarinersCharlety Stadium, ParisAttendance: 3,500
Castleford Tigers16 – 24Perth RedsWheldon Road, CastlefordAttendance: 3,590
Warrington Wolves12 - 40Cronulla SharksWilderspool Stadium, WarringtonAttendance: 3,378
9 June 1997
Canterbury Bulldogs18 – 22Wigan WarriorsBelmore Sports Ground, SydneyAttendance: 10,680
Bradford Bulls16 – 20Penrith PanthersOdsal Stadium, BradfordAttendance: 14,378

Round 2

13 June 1997
Adelaide Rams34 – 8Leeds RhinosAdelaide Oval, AdelaideAttendance: 14,630
Castleford Tigers12 – 42Hunter MarinersWheldon Road, CastlefordAttendance: 3,087
14 June 1997
North Queensland Cowboys54 – 16Oldham BearsStockland Stadium, TownsvilleAttendance: 12,631
Bradford Bulls16 – 20Auckland WarriorsOdsal Stadium, BradfordAttendance: 13,133
15 June 1997
Canterbury Bulldogs58 – 6Halifax Blue SoxBelmore Sports Ground, SydneyAttendance: 5,034
Canberra Raiders66 – 20London BroncosBruce Stadium, CanberraAttendance: 6,471
Sheffield Eagles26 – 22Perth RedsDon Valley Stadium, SheffieldAttendance: 3,000
Warrington Wolves22 – 52Penrith PanthersWilderspool Stadium, WarringtonAttendance: 3,850
16 June 1997
Brisbane Broncos34 – 0Wigan WarriorsANZ Stadium, BrisbaneAttendance: 14,833
St Helens8 - 48Cronulla SharksKnowsley Road, St HelensAttendance:8,039

Round 3

20 June 1997
Adelaide Rams42 – 14Oldham BearsAdelaide Rams, AdelaideAttendance: 13,852
Bradford Bulls10 – 30Cronulla SharksOdsal Stadium, BradfordAttendance: 10,756
21 June 1997
North Queensland Cowboys44 – 8Salford City RedsStockland Stadium, TownsvilleAttendance: 15,508
Paris St-Germain24 – 0Perth RedsCharlety Stadium, ParisAttendance: 2,500
22 June 1997
Brisbane Broncos76 – 0Halifax Blue SoxANZ Stadium, BrisbaneAttendance: 11,358
Canberra Raiders56 – 22Wigan WarriorsBruce Stadium, CanberraAttendance: 9,098
Canterbury Bulldogs34 – 18London BroncosBelmore Sports Ground, SydneyAttendance: 4,000
23 June 1997
Warrington Wolves28 – 56Auckland WarriorsWilderspool Stadium, WarringtonAttendance: 4,428
Sheffield Eagles4 – 40Hunter MarinersDon Valley Stadium, SheffieldAttendance: 2,500

Round 4

18 July 1997
Penrith Panthers48 – 12Warrington WolvesPenrith Football Stadium, PenrithAttendance: 5,642
Leeds Rhinos22 – 14Adelaide RamsHeadingley Rugby Stadium, LeedsAttendance: 11,269
Oldham Bears20 – 16North Queensland CowboysBoundary Park, OldhamAttendance: 2,961
19 July 1997
Perth Reds48 – 12Sheffield EaglesWACA Ground, PerthAttendance: 7,429
20 July 1997
Auckland Warriors64 – 14Bradford BullsEricsson Stadium, AucklandAttendance: 13,000
Hunter Mariners26 – 8Castleford TigersTopper Stadium, NewcastleAttendance: 3,379
Halifax Blue Sox22 – 40Canterbury BulldogsThrum Hall, HalifaxAttendance: 3,500
Wigan Warriors4 – 30Brisbane BroncosCentral Park, WiganAttendance: 12,816
21 July 1997
Cronulla Sharks28 – 12St. HelensShark Park, SydneyAttendance: 7,751
London Broncos38 – 18Canberra RaidersThe Stoop, LondonAttendance: 7,819

Round 5

25 July 1997
Auckland Warriors70 – 6St. HelensEricsson Stadium, AucklandAttendance: 8,500
Oldham Bears2 – 18Adelaide RamsBoundary Park, OldhamAttendance: 3,315
26 July 1997
Cronulla Sharks44 – 0Warrington WolvesShark Park, SydneyAttendance: 6,112
27 July 1997
Hunter Mariners32 – 0Paris St-GermainTopper Stadium, NewcastleAttendance: 2,210
Perth Reds24 – 14Castleford TigersWACA Ground, PerthAttendance: 6,114
London Broncos16 – 34Brisbane BroncosThe Stoop, LondonAttendance: 9,846
Salford City Reds14 – 24North Queensland CowboysThe Willows, SalfordAttendance: 7,448
Halifax Blue Sox12 – 42Canberra RaidersThrum Hall, HalifaxAttendance: 3,620
28 July 1997
Penrith Panthers54 – 14Bradford BullsPenrith Football Stadium, PenrithAttendance: 5,332
Wigan Warriors31 – 24Canterbury BulldogsCentral Park, WiganAttendance: 10,280

Round 6

1 August 1997
Perth Reds18 – 8Paris St-GermainWACA Ground, PerthAttendance: 5,160
London Broncos22 – 44Canterbury BulldogsThe Stoop, LondonAttendance: 6,923
2 August 1997
Cronulla Sharks40 – 12Bradford BullsShark Park, SydneyAttendance: 8,272
3 August 1997
Auckland Warriors16 – 4Warrington WolvesLancaster Park, ChristchurchAttendance: 6,500
Hunter Mariners58 – 12Sheffield EaglesTopper Stadium, NewcastleAttendance: 1,965
Leeds Rhinos14 – 48North Queensland CowboysHeadingley Rugby Stadium, LeedsAttendance: 12,224
Salford City Reds14 – 12Adelaide RamsThe Willows, SalfordAttendance: 6,995
Wigan Warriors10 – 50Canberra RaidersCentral Park, WiganAttendance: 12,504
4 August 1997
Penrith Panthers32 – 26St. HelensPenrith Football Stadium, PenrithAttendance: 5,000
Halifax Blue Sox10 – 54Brisbane BroncosThrum Hall, HalifaxAttendance: 3,255

Playoffs

20 August 1997
St. Helens42 – 4Paris St-GermainKnowsley Road, St. HelensAttendance: -

Quarter-finals

3 October 1997
Auckland Warriors62 – 14Bradford BullsEricsson Stadium, AucklandAttendance: 9,553
Wigan Warriors18 – 22Hunter MarinersCentral Park, WiganAttendance: 9,553
4 October 1997
Brisbane Broncos66 – 12St. HelensANZ Stadium, BrisbaneAttendance: 6,438
6 October 1997
London Broncos16 – 40Cronulla SharksThe Stoop, LondonAttendance: 6,239

Semi-finals

10 October 1997
Brisbane Broncos22 – 16Auckland WarriorsANZ Stadium, BrisbaneAttendance: 9,686
11 October 1997
Cronulla Sharks18 – 22Hunter MarinersShark Park, SydneyAttendance: 5,214

Final

In their only year of existence, this would be the only Final that the Hunter Mariners would appear in.

1997 (1997) World Club Championship final  ()
12 Total
BRI 2610 36
HUN 48 12
Date18 October 1997
StadiumEricsson Stadium
LocationAuckland, New Zealand
RefereeGraham Annesley Australia
Attendance10,300
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators

Teams

Brisbane Broncos
Hunter Mariners
FB1Darren Lockyer
RW18Michael De Vere
RC13Darren Smith
LC4Steve Renouf
LW5Wendell Sailor
FE6Kevin Walters
HB7Allan Langer (c)
PR21Shane Webcke
HK9John Plath
PR23Andrew Gee
SR11Gorden Tallis
SR10Brad Thorn
LK12Peter Ryan
Substitutions:
IC14Ben Walker
IC2Michael Hancock
IC15Tonie Carroll
IC33Phillip Lee
Coach:
Australia Wayne Bennett
FB1Robbie Ross
RW3Nick Zisti
LC6Brad Godden
RC4Kevin Iro
LW5John Carlaw
FE21Scott Hill
HB20Brett Kimmorley
PR31Anthony Brann
HK9Robbie McCormack (c)
PR14Troy Stone
SR16Darrien Doherty
SR12Paul Marquet
LK55Tyran Smith
Substitutions:
IC2Keith Beauchamp
IC10Tim Maddison
IC11Tony Iro
IC18Richard Swain
Coach:
Australia Graham Murray

Match details

Aftermath

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.[3] 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

References

  1. Hadfield, Dave (16 October 1997). "The short but amazing life of Hunter Mariners". The Independent. independent.co.uk. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  2. 1997 WCC Final - Brisbane vs Hunter
  3. Robinson, John (1997). Super League Official Annual 1998. World International. p. 42. ISBN 0-7498-3389-0.
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