Stuart says record is all that matters
February 6, 2005
SYDNEY Roosters coach Ricky Stuart claims the English dominance of the World Club Challenge is a reality check for the NRL premiership.
As critics slammed the match as being unfair to Australian teams in the wake of Leeds' 39-32 win over the Bulldogs, Stuart said the format should stay as it is.
He also rejected that the 8-3 advantage to English teams since the WCC was revived in 1987 tarnishes the status of the Telstra Premiership, long considered the best competition in the world.
"Maybe we're not the best at the moment," Stuart said. "They (Bulldogs) just got beat, didn't they? So obviously they're not the best.
"Therefore I'm saying, not just the Bulldogs, but maybe the NRL isn't the best. You can only go on the results, can't you?"
There was a chorus of disapproval from leading NRL players and coaches as they tried to digest another English triumph.
After watching the match with Bulldogs supporters, injured prop Mark O'Meley said the game should come to Australia.
The last time the match was staged in Australia was in 1994, when Wigan defeated Brisbane in front of 50,000-plus fans at ANZ Stadium.
Only Brisbane (1993), Melbourne (2000) and Stuart's Roosters in 2003 have tasted success.
"It would be great for the game to come to Australia," O'Meley said last night.
"Why don't they even it out and play it year for year in different countries.
"I think they have an advantage over there and it would be great for us to have it here, because it's a fair way to travel."
Test hooker Danny Buderus, who lost with Newcastle to Bradford in 2002, scoffed at suggestions the NRL has been damaged by the lack of success against the English premiers.
"Definitely not and if you want to look at the NRL, look at the Australian team and what they do over there," Buderus said.
"I just think if they want to go around with the world championship tag, it should be done properly after each season.
"Leeds play next week so they want everyone fit and ready to go and we're still six weeks from our competition. It's a pretty big ask for Australian teams to get over there at this stage of the year and perform at their peak.
"Leeds played really well, but from what the Bulldogs showed -- if you add Willie Mason, Andrew Ryan, Mark O'Meley, Brent Sherwin and Matt Utai -- you don't have to be Einstein to work out how much better they could play."
Another recent loser in the WCC, Penrith coach John Lang, proposed a Super Bowl-type scenario as a solution.
"While it's set up this way, I'm not sure it's ever going to have much credibility until you can turn it into a proper international fixture," Lang said.
"I think it would be tremendous to see both seasons finish on the same weekend and then have a Super Bowl-type game a fortnight after.
"I know that will take a bit of jigging with the draws here and there, but I think it can be done."
The WCC contract is on a year-to-year basis, meaning there is nothing to stop the match being staged in Australia next year.
But NRL chief executive David Gallop said he thinks it should remain in the northern hemisphere.
"The sellout crowd this morning and the opportunity for our guys to go on a special trip away is likely to see us support playing it in the UK again," Gallop said.
The Sunday Telegraph
