2008 World Club Challenge

{{see|2007 Super League Grand Final}}

Leeds Rhinos qualified through being the 2007 Super League champions, defeating St. Helens 33–6 in the Grand Final.

{{see|2007 NRL Grand Final}}

Melbourne Storm clinched the 2007 National Rugby League title in a 34–8 belting of Manly, earning them a place in the World Club Challenge.

Melbourne played a warm-up game against National League One team

Halifax.{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12212_5690668,00.html |title=Quins to warm up Storm |date=12 November 2009 |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=9 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107075005/http://www.skysports.com/story/0%2C19528%2C12212_5690668%2C00.html |archive-date=7 January 2010 |url-status = live}}

Melbourne's squad included 11 members of the 2007 premiership team, but were missing captain Cameron Smith who had stayed in Australia to be present for the birth of his first child.{{cite book |last1=Middleton |first1=David |title=2008 Official Rugby League Annual |publisher=News Magazines |location=Sydney |page=34}}

{{Rugby league match squad

| collapsed = n

| align = center

| hometeam = Leeds Rhinos

| homeBorder = blue

| homeBGcolour = yellow

| homeFGcolour = blue

| awayteam = Melbourne Storm

| awayBorder = purple

| awayBGcolour = navy

| awayFGcolour = white

| squadsize = 17

| location = ns

| abbr = y

| homeCoach = {{flagicon|NZL}} Brian McClennan

| homeFB = Brent Webb

| homeFBnum = 1

| homeWG1 = Lee Smith

| homeWG1num = 5

| homeCE1 = Clinton Toopi

| homeCE1num = 3

| homeCE2 = Keith Senior

| homeCE2num = 4

| homeWG2 = Scott Donald

| homeWG2num = 2

| homeSO = Danny McGuire

| homeSOnum = 6

| homeSH = Rob Burrow

| homeSHnum = 7

| homePR1 = Kylie Leuluai

| homePR1num = 8

| homeHK = Matt Diskin

| homeHKnum = 9

| homePR2 = Jamie Peacock

| homePR2num = 10

| homeSR1 = Jamie Jones-Buchanan

| homeSR1num = 11

| homeSR2 = Gareth Ellis

| homeSR2num = 12

| homeLF = Kevin Sinfield (c)

| homeLFnum = 13

| homeIN1 = Ali Lauitiiti

| homeIN1num = 14

| homeIN2 = Ryan Bailey

| homeIN2num = 16

| homeIN3 = Nick Scruton

| homeIN3num = 17

| homeIN4 = Carl Ablett

| homeIN4num = 19

| awayCoach = {{flagicon|AUS}} Craig Bellamy

| awayFB = Billy Slater

| awayFBnum = 1

| awayWG1 = Steve Turner

| awayWG1num = 2

| awayCE1 = Will Chambers

| awayCE1num = 3

| awayCE2 = Israel Folau

| awayCE2num = 4

| awayWG2 = Anthony Quinn

| awayWG2num = 5

| awaySO = Matt Geyer

| awaySOnum = 9

| awaySH = Cooper Cronk (c)

| awaySHnum = 7

| awayPR1 = Jeff Lima

| awayPR1num = 8

| awayHK = Jeremy Smith

| awayHKnum = 11

| awayPR2 = Brett White

| awayPR2num = 10

| awaySR1 = Antonio Kaufusi

| awaySR1num = 14

| awaySR2 = Ryan Hoffman

| awaySR2num = 12

| awayLF = Dallas Johnson

| awayLFnum = 13

| awayIN1 = Russell Aitken

| awayIN1num = 6

| awayIN2 = Adam Blair

| awayIN2num = 15

| awayIN3 = Sika Manu

| awayIN3num = 16

| awayIN4 = Sam Tagataese

| awayIN4num = 17

| source =

}}

The match was played in cold and windy conditions, four rounds into the 2008 Super League competition and one week before the start of the 2008 NRL season. 33,204 spectators turned out at Elland Road, in Leeds for a hard-fought, low-scoring match in which each side scored a try apiece, with Leeds ultimately coming out winners, due largely to the goal kicking of Kevin Sinfield. The win meant the English champions side defeated their Australian counterparts for the fifth consecutive year.

Kevin Sinfield opened the scoring for Leeds, converting a penalty goal from directly in front of the posts, but Melbourne would score the first try with acting captain Cooper Cronk sending Ryan Hoffman over the line in the 16th minute to take a 4–2 lead.{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Andy |title=Rhinos top of the world as brave Burrow rides storm |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/mar/01/rugbyleague.leedsrhinos |website=The Guardian |access-date=21 February 2023 |date=1 March 2008}}Steve Turner could not add the conversion in the blustery conditions.

Danny McGuire would leave the field in the half due to a shoulder injury, however in his absence, Leeds would take a half time lead when Brent Webb floated a pass to Scott Donald to score a try in the corner. Sinfield's conversion from the sideline giving Leeds a 8–4 lead.

Heavy rain greeted the players upon the resumption. Turner would not return for Melbourne after half time due to concussion. Clinton Toopi would then join McGuire on the sidelines through injury for Leeds, with Toopi suffering an arm injury. A biting allegation against Leeds winger Lee Smith was a minor controversy midway through the second half, but despite immediately reporting the incident to the touch judge, Melbourne's Will Chambers refused to file an official complaint at full time.

In a battle of attrition, defence won out as the half progressed, with Melbourne unable to find a way through the Leeds line.{{cite web |title=World Club Challenge |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7263513.stm |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |access-date=21 February 2023 |date=29 February 2008}} Chambers came close to a late try in the 78th minute, but his foot found the touch line before he could ground the ball. In the end Sinfield's penalty goal in the 60th minute and drop goal 12 minutes from full time, were the only points in the second half.

World Club Challenge

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080910015138/http://www.superleague.co.uk/wcc_2008.php?rid=321 2008 World Club Challenge at superleague.co.uk]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716135237/http://www.therfl.co.uk/~therflc/results/report.php?z=international&id=3008309 2008 World Club Challenge at therfl.co.uk]
• [http://www.rlphotos.com/2008specials/WCC1/index.htm 2008 World Club Challenge at rlphotos.com]
• [http://rugbyleagueproject.com/matches/World_Club_Challenge_2008/Leeds_Rhinos-vs-Melbourne_Storm.html 2008 World Club Challenge at rugbyleagueproject.com]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJPi_cHTEww Match replay at YouTube.com]

{{World Club Challenge}}

{{Leeds Rhinos - 2008 World Club Challenge winners}}

{{Leeds Rhinos}}

{{2008 in rugby league}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:World Club Challenge}}

2008

Category:Leeds Rhinos matches

Category:Melbourne Storm matches

Category:2008 in English rugby league

Category:2008 in Australian rugby league

Category:2008 rugby league matches

Category:Sports competitions in Leeds