What if the World Club Challenge happened in 1994 ?

[anjado]

In 1994 both the English and Australian Rugby League had 16 teams in it's premier club competition. How would a world club challenge have gone ? Would it have been more competitive ? how many English sides would have beaten their Australian counter parts ? Where would Wigan have finished in the NSWRL ?

I have given all the advantages to the English side in terms of players. English sides were picked on the basis of the 1994/95 Premiership season.

I am not sure about many of the lower English sides and their starting XIII's but i did the best that i could.


1st NSWRL

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

1. Matthew Ryan
2. Brett Dallas
3. Jarrod McCracken
4. Darren Smith
5. Darryl Halligan
6. Terry Lamb
7. Craig Polla-Mounter
8. Darren Britt
9. Jason Heterington
10. Martin Bella
11. Jason Smith
12. Dean Pay
13. Jim Dymock

14. Steven Hughes
15. Mark Brokenshire
16. Simon Gillies
17. Steve Price


VS


16th English Championship

Doncaster

1. Jamie Bloem
2. Mark Roache
3. Martin Rowse
4. David Evans
5. Brad Hayes
6. Alex Green
7. Barry Eaton
8. Wayne Jackson
9. Colin Maskill
10. Simon Tuffs
11. Vila Matautia
12. Robert Turner
13. Tony Miller

14. Brendan Carlyle
15. Terry Manning
16. Tony Bowes
17. Nick Frankland



2nd NSWRL

North Sydney Bears

1. Matt Seers
2. Sean Hoppe
3. Ivan Cleary
4. Chris Caruana
5. David Hall
6. Greg Florimo
7. Jason Taylor
8. Gavin Jones
9. Mark Soden
10. Mario Fenech
11. Gary Larson
12. David Fairleigh
13. Billy Moore

14. Craig Wilson
15. Josh Stuart
16. Tony Hearn
17. Mat Toshack


VS


15th English Championship

Hull FC

1. Richard Gay
2. Paul Sterling
3. Rob Nolan
4. Rob Danby
5. Tevita Vaikona
6. Shane Endacott
7. Johan Windley
8. Steve Craven
9. Mike Dixon
10. Mark Jones
11. John Sharp
12. Dean Budsy
13. Steve McNamara

14. Rob Wilson
15. Maea David
16. John Aston
17. Gary Nolan




3rd NSWRL

Canberra Raiders

1. Brett Mullins
2. Noa Nadruku
3. Mal Meninga
4. Ruben Wiki
5. Ken Nagas
6. Laurie Daley
7. Ricky Stuart
8. John Lomax
9. Steve Walters
10. Quinten Pongia
11. David Furner
12. Jason Croker
13. Bradley Clyde

14. Jason Death
15. Paul Osborne
16. Brett Hetherington
17. David Westley


VS


14th English Championship

Widnes

1. Steve Spruce
2. Gary Broadbent
3. John Devereux
4. David Wright
5. David Smith
6. David Hulme
7. Chris Kelly
8. Lee Hansen
9. Paul Hulme
10. Mike O'Neill
11. Steve McCurrie
12. Emosi Koloto
13. Karle Hammond

14. Adrian Hadley
15. Andy Ireland
16. Craig Makin
17. Tony Thorniley



4th NSWRL

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

1. Matthew Ridge
2. Craig Hancock
3. Terry Hill
4. Danny Moore
5. Jack Elsegood
6. Cliff Lyons
7. Geoff Toovey
8. David Gillespie
9. David O'Donnell
10. Mark Carroll
11. Steve Menzies
12. Ian Roberts
13. Owen Cunningham

14. Matt Dunford
15. Daniel Gartner
16. David Alexander
17. Chris Ryan


VS


13th English Championship

Wakefield Trinity

1. Gary Spencer
2. David Bailey
3. Daio Powell
4. Steve McGowan
5. Gary Christie
6. Nigel Wright
7. Aaron Whittaker
8. Francis Stephenson
9. Brian Noble
10. Wayne McDonald
11. Ian Marlow
12. Ian Gildart
13. Mike Forshaw

14. Billy Conway
15. Nigel Bell
16. Mark Sheals
17. Robert Piva



5th NSWRL

Brisbane Broncos

1. Julian O'Neill
2. Wendell Sailor
3. Steve Renouf
4. Michael Hancock
5. Wendell Sailor
6. Kevin Walters
7. Allan Langer
8. Glenn Lazarus
9. Kerrod Walters
10. Andrew Gee
11. Mark Hohn
12. Alan Cann
13. Terry Matterson

14. John Plath
15. Peter Ryan
16. Brad Thorn
17. Chris McKenna


VS


12th English Championship

Salford

1. Phil Ford
2. Jason Williams
3. Jason Critchley
4. Scott Wilson
5. Sam Panapa
6. Steve Blakeley
7. Andy Gregory
8. David Young
9. Wayne Marshall
10. Ian Blease
11. Nathan McEvoy
12. Richard Webster
13. Mike Gregory

14. Ian Watson
15. Paul Forber
16. Scott Naylor
17. Scott Mahon



6th NSWRL

Illawarra Steelers

1. David Riolo
2. Rod Wishart
3. Brett Rodwell
4. Paul McGregor
5. Nigel Roy
6. Craig Simon
7. John Simon
8. Darren Fritz
9. Dean Callaway
10. Peter Johnston
11. Neil Piccinelli
12. John Cross
13. Andrew Farrar

14. Joe Thomas
15. Barry Ward
16. David Walsh
17. Brendan O'Meara


VS


11th English Championship

Featherstone Rovers

1. Frederic Banquet
2. Iva Ropati
3. Andy Currier
4. Carl Gibson
5. Ikram Butt
6. Mark Nixon
7. Mark Aston
8. Steve Molloy
9. Richard Gunn
10. Leo Casey
11. Neil Roebuck
12. Gary Price
13. Brendan Tuuta

14. Matt Calland
15. Neil Battye
16. Daniel Divet
17. Martin Pearson



7th NSWRL

Cronulla Sharks

1. David Peachey
2. Ritchie Barnett
3. Andrew Ettingshausen
4. Geoff Bell
5. Eion Crossan
6. Mitch Healey
7. Paul Green
8. Danny Lee
9. Andrew Neave
10. Dan Stains
11. Les Davidson
12. Andrew Hick
13. Dave Boughton

14. Darren Higgins
15. Adam Ritson
16. Robbie Kearns
17. Andrew Pierce


VS


10th English Championship

Oldham

1. Gary Lord
2. Nigel Heslop
3. Shaun Irwin
4. Darren Abram
5. Adrian Belle
6. Paul Topping
7. Martin Crompton
8. Jason Temu
9. David Stephenson
10. Paul Davidson
11. David Bradbury
12. Mike Kuiti
13. Ian Sherratt

14. Scott Ranson
15. Joe Faimalo
16. Paul Norman
17. Howard Hill



8th NSWRL

Penrith Panthers

1. Greg Alexander
2. Graham Mackay
3. Ryan Girdler
4. Matt Sing
5. Robbie Beckett
6. Steve Carter
7. Gary Freeman
8. Barry Walker
9. Danny Farrar
10. Carl MacNamara
11. Trevor Gillmeister
12. John Cartwright
13. Brad Fittler

14. Mark Bell
15. Jason Lidden
16. Phil Adamson
17. Matt Adamson


VS


9th English Championships

Workington

1. Mark Mulligan
2. Des Drummond
3. Vince Fawcett
4. Tony Kay
5. Danny Ellison
6. Augustine O'Donnell
7. Kevin Ellis
8. James Pickering
9. Brad Hepi
10. Stephen Holgate
11. Rowland Phillips
12. Billy McGinty
13. Phil McKenzie

14. Barry Williams
15. Kyle White
16. Dean Marwood
17. Colin Armstrong



9th NSWRL

South Sydney Rabbitohs

1. Darrell Trindall
2. Mark McGaw
3. David Penna
4. Jacin Sinclair
5. Paul Mellor
6. Jason Bell
7. Craig Field
8. Brett Goldspink
9. Dean Schifiliti
10. Terry Hermansson
11. Jeremy Donougher
12. Tony Mestrov
13. Tyran Smith

14. Duncan McRae
15. Anthony Karberry
16. Scott Tronc
17. Shane Wilson


VS


8th English Championship

Sheffield Eagles

1. Lynton Scott
2. Bright Sodje
3. Daryl Powell
4. Keith Senior
5. Matt Crowther
6. Darell Trindall
7. Ryan Sheridan
8. Paul Broadbent
9. Lee Jackson
10. Dale Laughton
11. Anthony Farrell
12. Ian Hughes
13. Paul Carr

14. Carl Briggs
15. Alan Boothroyd
16. David Mycoe
17. Darrent Turner



NSWRL 10th

Newcastle Knights

1. Robbie O'Davis
2. Brad Godden
3. Jamie Ainscough
4. Russell Wyer
5. Nathan Barnes
6. Matthew Johns
7. Andrew Johns
8. Mark Sargent
9. Robbie McCormack
10. Paul Harragon
11. Darren Treacy
12. Adam Muir
13. Marc Glanville

14. Robbie Ross
15. Tony Butterfield
16. Steve Crowe
17. Wayne Richards


VS


7th English Championship

Bradford Northern

1. Dave Watson
2. Gerald Cordle
3. Paul Newlove
4. Roger Simpson
5. David Myers
6. Neil Holding
7. Deryck Fox
8. Brian McDermott
9. Robbie Paul
10. Karl Fairbank
11. Paul Dixon
12. Roy Powell
13. David Heron

14. Paul Round
15. Paul Medley
16. Jon Hamer
17. Trevor Clark



11th NSWRL

St George Dragons

1. Rod Maybon
2. Ricky Walford
3. Mark Coyne
4. Graeme Bradley
5. Rex Terp
6. Anthony Mundine
7. Noel Goldthorpe
8. Tony Priddle
9. Nathan Brown
10. Jason Stevens
11. David Barnhill
12. Scott Gourley
13. Brad Mackay

14. Phil Blake
15. Gorden Tallis
16. Jeff Hardy
17. Andrew Walker


VS


6th English Championships

Warrington

1. Jonathan Davies
2. Allan Bateman
3. Francis Maloney
4. Paul Cullen
5. Mark Forster
6. Iestyn Harris
7. Kevin Ellis
8. Mark Hilton
9. Greg Mackey
10. Gary Chambers
11. Mike Wainwright
12. Bruce McGuire
13. Paul Sculthorpe

14. Kelly Shelford
15. Paul Darbyshire
16. Jon Roper
17. Lee Penny



12th NSWRL

Parramatta Eels

1. Danny Crnkovich
2. Brett Plowman
3. David Woods
4. Michael Buettner
5. Lee Oudenryn
6. Keith Blackett
7. Stu Galbraith
8. Paul Clarke
9. Peter McPhail
10. Paul Dunn
11. Cameron Blair
12. Chris King
13. Michael Speechley

14. Tulsen Tollett
15. John Fearnley
16. Marty McKenzie
17. Robert Muchmore


VS


5th English Championships

Halifax

1. Steve Hampson
2. John Bentley
3. John Schuster
4. Graeme Hallas
5. Mark Preston
6. Michael Hagan
7. Wayne Parker
8. Karl Harrison
9. Roy Southernwood
10. Simon Baldwin
11. Paul Moriarty
12. Michael Jackson
13. Gary Divorty

14. Richard Smith
15. John Fieldhouse
16. Lee Harland
17. Johnny Lawless



13th NSWRL

Western Suburbs Magpies

1. Andrew Leeds
2. Darren Willis
3. Ken McGuinness
4. Brandon Costin
5. Paul Smith
6. Steve Georgallis
7. Jason Alchin
8. Neil Tierney
9. Jim Sedaris
10. Glenn Grief
11. Stephen Kearney
12. Mark Afflick
13. Paul Langmack

14. Josh White
15. Brent Stuart
16. Bill Dunn
17. Damien McGarry


VS


4th English Championship

St Helens

1. Steve Prescott
2. Alan Hunte
3. Paul Loughlin
4. Scott Gibbs
5. Anthony Sullivan
6. Tommy Martyn
7. Bobbie Goulding
8. Andy Dannatt
9. Keiron Cunningham
10. Sonny Nickle
11. Chris Joynt
12. Apollo Perelini
13. Jonathan Griffiths

14. Mark Elia
15. Adam Fogerty
16. Chris Arkwright
17. Shane Cooper



14th NSWRL

Eastern Suburbs Roosters

1. Rod Silva
2. Shane Whereat
3. Luke Ricketson
4. Jason Hudson
5. Jeff Orford
6. Brendan Hall
7. Adrian Lam
8. Craig Salvatori
9. Sean Garlick
10. Jason Lowrie
11. Tony Iro
12. Mark Protheroe
13. Nigel Gaffey

14. Brian Smith
15. Clinton O'Brien
16. Bruce Sinclair
17. Jason Tassell


VS


3rd English Championship

Castleford

1. Graham Steadman
2. Simon Middleton
3. Richie Blackmore
4. Richard Goddard
5. Chris Smith
6. Tony Kemp
7. Tony Smith
8. Lee Crooks
9. Richard Russell
10. Dean Sampson
11. Andy Hay
12. Martin Ketteridge
13. Tawera Nikau

14. Jason Flowers
15. Nathan Sykes
16. Ian Smales
17. Lee Harland



15th NSWRL

Gold Coast Seagulls

1. Danny Peacock
2. Clinton Mohr
3. Andrew Vowles
4. Adrian Brunker
5. David Bouvang
6. Dale Shearer
7. Craig Coleman
8. David Woods
9. Eddie Fallins
10. Scott Freestone
11. Darren Wolens
12. Peter Gill
13. Wayne Bartrim

14. Andrew Dunnemann
15. Kevin Campion
16. Brendan Hurst
17. John Skardon


VS


2nd English Championships

Leeds

1. Alan Tait
2. Jim Fallon
3. Kevin Iro
4. Craig Innes
5. Francis Cummins
6. Garry Schofield
7. Graham Holroyd
8. Harvey Howard
9. James Lowes
10. Esene Faimalo
11. Gary Mercer
12. Richard Eyres
13. Ellery Hanley

14. Patrick Entat
15. George Mann
16. Adrian Morley
17. Neil Harmon



16th NSWRL

Balmain Tigers

1. Tim Brasher
2. Graham Lyons
3. Greg Bourke
4. Will Robinson
5. Marty Moore
6. Mick Neil
7. Nathan Wood
8. Martin Marsella
9. Benny Elias
10. Steve Edmed
11. Paul Sironen
12. Matt Munroe
13. Shane Powell

14. Michael Gillett
15. Shane Powell
16. Des Clark
17. David Bayssari


VS


1st English Championship

Wigan

1. Kris Radlinski
2. Jason Robinson
3. Gary Connolly
4. Va'aiga Tuigamala
5. Martin Offiah
6. Frano Botica
7. Shaun Edwards
8. Neil Cowie
9. Martin Dermott
10. Kelvin Skerrett
11. Dennis Betts
12. Andy Farrell
13. Phil Clarke

14. Henry Paul
15. Mick Cassidy
16. Barrie McDermott
17. Simon Haughton

 

[anjado]

I think the top 7 English clubs are quite strong and i think the top 5 English clubs would have beaten the bottom 5 Australian clubs. The only game i am unsure about would be Easts vs Castleford.

I think with the exception of Souths who had a great season i think the top 11 Australian teams are all very good.

It was an interesting time and i think 1997 was the worst time to have the world club challenge from a British perspective their was far less depth in the competition in 1997 than their was in 1994.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

My team would have won.

 

[roughyedspud]

7th NSWRL

Cronulla Sharks

1. David Peachey
2. Ritchie Barnett
3. Andrew Ettingshausen
4. Geoff Bell
5. Eion Crossan
6. Mitch Healey
7. Paul Green
8. Danny Lee
9. Andrew Neave
10. Dan Stains
11. Les Davidson
12. Andrew Hick
13. Dave Boughton

14. Darren Higgins
15. Adam Ritson
16. Robbie Kearns
17. Andrew Pierce


VS


10th English Championship

Oldham

1. Gary Lord
2. Nigel Heslop
3. Shaun Irwin
4. Darren Abram
5. Adrian Belle
6. Paul Topping
7. Martin Crompton
8. Jason Temu
9. David Stephenson
10. Ian Sherratt
11. David Bradbury
12. Paul Davidson
13. Mike Kuiti

14. Scott Ranson
15. Joe Faimalo
16. Paul Norman
17. Howard Hill

be a good game that,we had a fantastic pack,ive swapped it about from what the op had it down as though, and if the game was at sheddings we'd have ran them close i reckon

 

[Evil Homer]

That Canberra backline

 

[deluded pom?]

be a good game that,we had a fantastic pack,ive swapped it about from what the op had it down as though, and if the game was at sheddings we'd have ran them close i reckon

They'd have run out at the 'sheddings with jaws dropped in disbelief. :lol:

 

[roughyedspud]

yeah cos the boulevard was the epitome of opulence wasn't it...

 

[roughyed8]

They'd have run out at the 'sheddings with jaws dropped in disbelief. :lol:

Dont know why the "86" kangaroos loved the place;-)!

 

[deluded pom?]

yeah cos the boulevard was the epitome of opulence wasn't it...

Compared to the 'sheddings, yes.

 

[WireMan]

Nothing compared to a nice welcoming Wilderspool.

A nice day out guaranteed.


Wire vs St George?

Well we ran the full club close this year so if they were only half a team back then I guess we would walk it... ;-)

 

[expansionist]

That is one hell of a piece of investigative journalism!

It must have been my hey day as an international RL fan as I was basically reading through 1- 13 of each team nodding my head...

BUT

Wendell Sailor was good - but he wasnt good enough to play on both wings of the Broncos..

Also Kevin Ellis - you have him playing half for both Warrington and Workington.

what a trip down memory lane

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Brings back the memories going through those teams. I loved Wigan from the NH League mainly because here in New Zealand that's the club we saw a lot of good footy from but the Winfield Cup teams (or Optus Cup), those are the players of my TV youth.

Shot for that. Carry on team

 

[Harrigan]

I did a quick count of all the NSWRL players and think I got to around 44/45 that went on to play in the SL. Pretty much every ARL team had at least 2 players. That's a hell of a lot!

 

[Rufio]

I did a quick count of all the NSWRL players and think I got to around 44/45 that went on to play in the SL. Pretty much every ARL team had at least 2 players. That's a hell of a lot!

Had a look at that, 56 played Super League in UK and it'll be 60+ for lower league comps.