2001 World Club Challenge

{{details|2000 Super League Grand Final}}

The 2000 Super League Grand Final was the conclusive and championship-deciding match of Super League V. It was contested by Wigan Warriors who had finished the regular season in 1s place, and St Helens R.F.C. who had finished in 2nd place, after both teams had played their way through the finals series. St Helens had played in the previous World Club Challenge, suffering a comprehensive defeat at the hands of the Melbourne Storm.

{{details|2000 NRL Grand Final}}

The 2000 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2000 NRL season. It was contested by the Brisbane Broncos, who had finished the regular season in 1st place, and the Sydney Roosters, who had finished in 2nd place, after both teams played their way through the finals series. Prior to the previous World Club Challenge, the Broncos had contested the three preceding it, winning twice.

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The match was played in wintery conditions on the night of Friday the 26th of January at Reebok Stadium in Bolton, England before a crowd of 16,041. The Broncos players wore black armbands in memory of the club's co-founder Paul "Porky" Morgan who had died from a heart attack the previous day.

{{rugbyleaguebox

| bg = #eeeeee

| date = 26 January 2001

| team1 = St. Helens {{leagueicon|St Helens|16}}

| score = 20 – 18

| report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/leeds/7906869.stm (Report)]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} Brisbane Broncos

| points1 = Tries:
Chris Joynt
Sean Long
Paul Sculthorpe
Goals:
Sean Long (3)
Field Goals:
Sean Long (1)
Paul Sculthorpe (1)

| points2 = Tries:
Shaun Berrigan
Phillip Lee
Brad Meyers
Goals:
Michael De Vere (3)

| stadium = Reebok Stadium, Bolton

| attendance = 16,041

| referee = Stuart Cummings {{flagicon|ENG}}

| manofmatch = Sean Long {{leagueicon|St Helens|16}}

}}

The first try of the match was scored by the Broncos from close to the Saints' try-line when Shaun Berrigan, playing at five-eighth, burrowed over from dummy half. St. Helens answered with a try from their loose forward, Paul Sculthorpe. This was followed by the Brisbane lock, Phillip Lee scoring at the other end. The half-time score was 6 - 12 in favour of the Broncos.

Brisbane were again the first to score in the second half through Brad Meyers, giving the visitors a good lead. But a converted try from Saints' scrum-half, Sean Long put the home team back in it at 18 - 12. The scores were then levelled when St. Helens centre, Paul Newlove ran around Wendell Sailor and dashed downfield, passing back inside to his captain, Chris Joynt to score. In the final minutes of the match the Saints managed to wear down the clock without conceding any points as try-scorers Sculthorpe and Long kicked a drop/field goal each, leaving the score at the final siren at 20 - 18.

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{{reflist}}

• [http://rugbyleagueproject.com/competitions/World_Club_Challenge_2001.html 2001 World Club Challenge at rugbyleagueproject.com]
• [http://www.rlphotos.com/2001WCC/index.htm 2001 World Club Challenge at rlphotos.com]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/6380851.stm 2001 World Club Challenge by Chris Joynt]

{{World Club Challenge}}

{{St Helens - 2001 World Club Challenge winners}}

{{St Helens RLFC}}

{{2001 in rugby league}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:World Club Challenge}}

2001

Category:Brisbane Broncos matches

Category:St Helens R.F.C. matches

Category:2001 in English rugby league

Category:2001 in Australian rugby league