World Club Challenge

The competition began unofficially in 1976 as a match between Sydney's Eastern Suburbs and Premiership winners St. Helens. This inaugural clash was proposed as merely a 'one-off' game, and was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on June 29, in the midst of the 1976 NSWRFL season.{{cite news|last=Wilson|first=Andy|title=History of the World Club Challenge|url=https://www.theroar.com.au/2019/02/04/history-of-the-world-club-challenge/|access-date=24 July 2021|newspaper=theroar.com.au|date=3 February 2019}}

While some considered it an unnecessary disruption to both teams' campaigns in their respective domestic competitions, a healthy crowd of 26,856 turned out for the match, indicating that it was indeed a viable initiative. Leading into the match, St. Helens opted to play two warm-up games against a Queensland and Auckland representative team respectively, and lost both. In order to prove their triumph was legitimate, and not a result of fatigue on behalf of St. Helens, Eastern Suburbs challenged both representative sides who had defeated St. Helens. While Queensland declined the offer, Auckland eagerly accepted, and were ultimately defeated by the tricolours 26–22 in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. Because the 1976 clash was a standalone game, there were no immediate plans for a follow-up match the next season, or indeed any in the foreseeable future.

The concept would not return until 1987, when another unofficial match took place. Wigan chairman Maurice Lindsay invited Manly-Warringah to Central Park.{{cite news|last=Wilson|first=Andy|title=Wigan prepare to slay Dragons after crushing St Helens in Grand Final|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/oct/03/wigan-st-helens-super-league-grand-final|access-date=24 July 2011|newspaper=guardian.co.uk|date=3 October 2010}} Long-serving Manly secretary Ken Arthurson proposed that the prize money should be split between the two clubs, regardless of the outcome, however, Lindsay argued that the game should be played under a 'winner-takes-all' stipulation, believing that it would result in the players and fans taking the game more seriously. Played on a dry October night, the match between Manly and Wigan was a tough, at times spiteful, encounter which attracted 36,895 spectators to Wigan's Central Park, most of whom spilled onto the ground at fulltime in celebration of the home side's 8–2 victory. Manly forward Ron Gibbs became the first player to be sent off in a World Club Challenge game during the match, as he was given his marching orders following an illegal elbow to Wigan centre Joe Lydon as he attempted a drop-goal.

Sea Eagles captain Paul Vautin would later claim that his side's loss came down to the team's lackadaisical attitude toward the game, saying that Manly treated the fixture as an opportunity to travel to England for a holiday, where they would continue their grand final celebrations.

The first officially recognised World Club Challenge was between Widnes and Canberra in 1989. Three more World Club Challenge games were played in the 1990s – 1991, 1992 and 1994 – with Wigan appearing in all three (winning the first at Anfield, Liverpool, losing to the Brisbane Broncos at home in the second before memorably defeating the same opponent in their own city in the third). {{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center |width=30em

| quote =If only we could see a genuine contest between Wigan and Brisbane – a World Club final. Alas, it will never happen. Oh sure, a game might be arranged, but logistics dictate that one side would be out of season, rusty or tired, and away from home.

| source =The Sydney Morning Herald, September 1992{{Cite news

| last = Townsend

| first = David

| title = Just a Touch of the Old Dart

| work = The Sydney Morning Herald

| place = Australia

| page = 47

| publisher = Fairfax Media

| date = 27 September 1992

| url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news920927_0114_7163

| access-date = 13 February 2011}}

| align = left

}} After the 1994 match logistical issues meant the concept was put on hiatus until it was revived in 1997.

With the outbreak of Australia's Super League War in 1995, the World Club Challenge was not staged again until 1997 when the competition was restructured to include the twenty-two clubs from the Australasian Super League and the European Super League. The twelve Australian Rugby League affiliated clubs did not take part. With six rounds in two hemispheres and $1,000,000 prize money, the competition was prohibitively expensive to stage and reportedly lost over $5,000,000. This, coupled with the poor ratings and attendances both in Australia and Europe, led to the competition being postponed for two seasons.

File:World Club Challenge.JPG trophy]]

Returning to a one-off match between the League champions in 1998, a World Club Challenge as a show-piece fixture at Ellis Park in Johannesburg was mooted.{{cite news

| last = Hadfield

| first = Dave

| title = League proposes show in S Africa

| work = The Independent

| place =UK

| publisher = independent.co.uk

| date = 1998-09-23

| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-league-proposes-show-in-s-africa-1200080.html

| access-date = 2010-04-24}} However this did not eventuate.

When it was resurrected in 2000, the World Club Challenge was once more played between the winners of the premierships in Australasia and Europe. During this period it was contested annually in the United Kingdom in late January or early February, before the commencement National Rugby League season and the Super League season. Over this period Super League teams dominated the tournament winning 7 of 9 matches, and this led one Australian commentator to deride the competition, citing the British refusal to play the game outside of the UK, the effects of jet lag on an Australian team who arrived in England only a couple of days before the game, and wintry conditions as reasons for Australian team's poor performance. In addition, the games were being played at the beginning of the new season instead of at the end of the previous season, so the rosters of both sides had normally changed considerably, therefore the teams that took the field were not the ones that won the respective premierships. For these reasons, it was viewed as merely a pre-season warm up game by most Australasian teams and fans.{{cite web |url= http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/humbling-highlights-tigers-relience-on-benji/2006/02/04/1138958942946.html |publisher= SMH |title=Humbling highlights Tigers' reliance on Benji |author=Phil Gould |date=2006-02-05 |access-date=2009-05-16}}{{cite news

| last = Langdon

| first = Mark

| title = Deadly Danny can get St Helens off to a flyer

| work = The Racing Post

| place = London, England

| publisher = MGN LTD

| date = 2005-02-04

| url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-128086234.html

| access-date = 2009-10-05}} {{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Since the 2009 tournament, its popularity has increased with stronger crowds and also with Australian teams taking the concept more seriously, Australian teams were arriving earlier to acclimatize the players and often organising warm up games with other super league sides and this created a much stronger showing and improved results. This also led to an increased movement to having the tournament staged in Australia. During this period, the matches were fixtured in late February, still before the commencement of the National Rugby League season but in the early stages of the new Super League season.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

{{multiple image

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| image1 = North Stand at Elland Road prior to the 2010 World Club Challenge.jpg

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| image2 = East Stand at Elland Road prior to the 2010 World Club Challenge.jpg

| width2 = 149

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| footer = Elland Road prior to the 2010 edition of the tournament.

}}

In mid-2012, a working party was established to look into the feasibility of conducting the match in either a neutral or Australian venue and also looking into the possibility of expanding the tournament.{{cite web |url= http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=43523 |publisher= rleague.com |title=World Club Challenge Expansion Working Party Group |date=2012-05-20 |access-date=2013-02-05}} In February 2013, the changes to the tournament were gaining momentum with the NRL and Super League agreeing to begin alternating the World Club Challenge tournament between the UK and Australia. These changes were finally confirmed in November 2013, with both parties agreeing that the 2014 World Club Challenge would be the first held in Australia since 1994.{{cite web |url= http://www.nrl.com/world-club-challenge-confirmed-for-aust/tabid/10874/newsid/75434/default.aspx |publisher= nrl.com |title=World Club Challenge confirmed for Aust |date=2013-11-18 |access-date=2013-02-05}} In addition, commencing in 2015, the tournament would also be expanded to six teams.{{cite web |url= http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/world-club-challenge-to-be-held-in-australia-20130213-2edhw.html |publisher= Canberra Times |title=World Club Challenge to be held in Australia |author=Steve Mascord |date=2013-02-14 |access-date=2013-02-14}} The World Club Challenge return to Australia in 2014 was a success with a solid crowd numbers of over 31,000, with the Sydney Roosters defeating the Wigan Warriors 36–14. During the game, Sydney's Michael Jennings became the first player to score a hat trick of tries in a World Club Challenge.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

In September 2014, it was announced that the World Club Challenge name would be changed to the World Club Series with six clubs participating – 3 from each league.{{Cite web |url=http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/world-club-series-details-announced/ |title=WORLD CLUB SERIES DETAILS ANNOUNCED - Rugby League Week |access-date=2015-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221245/http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/world-club-series-details-announced/ |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=dead }} The first iteration took place between 20 and 22 February 2015, and featured three matches, the first and second essentially being two exhibition games and the final game being for the Championship trophy between the two respective premiers as in previous years.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/dragons-to-play-in-world-club-series/tabid/10874/newsid/82453/default.aspx|title=Dragons to play in World Club Series|website=Nrl.com|date=8 October 2014 |access-date=9 October 2017}}

In 2017, the format was reduced to four teams, with the NRL citing tight schedules, distant travel and long seasons as an impediment to their participation in the Series. After the NRL negotiated with the Brisbane Broncos, it was decided that they would represent the NRL in an exhibition match vs Warrington Wolves prior to the usual Challenge game between the Super League Champions Wigan Warriors and Cronulla Sutherland Sharks, maintaining the overall Series concept. 2017 would be Super League's first victory since the series began, with Warrington winning 27–18 against Brisbane,{{Cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/warrington-vs-brisbane/45988|title=Warrington 27-18 Brisbane: Wolves' first-half blitz stuns Broncos|work=Sky Sports }} and Wigan beating Cronulla 22–6.{{Cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/wigan-vs-cronulla/45989|title = Wigan 22-6 Cronulla: Warriors crowned World Club Champions}}

In October 2017, it was suggested that the 2018 Series could be scrapped completely based on the top Australian teams reluctance to travel to the UK for the 2017 series which resulted in the Series being scaled back to two games only. In particular the second game of the 2017 series only featured an invited team from the NRL.{{cite web|url=http://www.seriousaboutrl.com/world-club-challenge-set-to-be-scrapped-10357/|title=World Club Challenge set to be scrapped?|work=seriousaboutrl.com|date=10 October 2017 |access-date=4 November 2017}} In addition, the 2017 Rugby League World Cup being played in Australia at the end of 2017, meant that the preseasons for Australian teams was going to be unusually short ahead of the 2018 season and therefore did not want to make the trip to England for the 2018 series. The Melbourne Storm (2017 NRL Premiers) in particular, were reluctant to travel meaning the series was in danger of cancellation for the first time since the 1990s as it is the Storm that was playing in the World Club Challenge.

In June 2017, the Super League announced that the Australian city of Wollongong would host the first ever Super League game outside Europe. Wigan Warriors will "host" Hull F.C. in the game at WIN Stadium on Saturday, 10 February.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/wollongong-to-host-historic-super-league-game-in-2018/news-story/030e5a40f9a91f38f7c7cdaf4168ddab/|title=Wollongong to host historic Super League game|work=foxsports.com.au|date=26 July 2017 |access-date=4 November 2017}} In addition and as part of this trip to Australia, Wigan and Hull would also play two exhibition games against South Sydney Rabbitohs and St George Illawarra Dragons respectively. These were separately arranged fixtures and not considered part of the World Club Series.{{cite web|title=2018 World Club Challenge: Leeds Rhinos to play Melbourne Storm in Australia|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/41976536|website=BBC Sport|access-date=12 December 2017|date=13 November 2017}}{{cite web|title=Super League: Wigan Warriors to face Hull FC in Australia in 2018|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/40727923|website=BBC Sport|access-date=12 December 2017|date=26 July 2017}}

On 14 November 2017, it was confirmed that Leeds Rhinos would travel to Australia to play Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park in Melbourne on 16 February 2018, and that the World Club Challenge would return to a one-game format for the first time since 2014. The Storm defeated Leeds 38–4 to become World Club Champions for 2018 and also became the first club to hold the NRL Minor Premiership, NRL Premiership and World Club Challenge at the same time since the Sydney Roosters in 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/02/16/melbourne-storm-beat-leeds-rhinos-in-world-club-challenge/|title=Slater injured as Storm beat Leeds in World Club Challenge|work=nrl.com.au|date=16 February 2018 |access-date=16 February 2018}}

On 22 February 2020, the Sydney Roosters became the first team to win back to back World Club Challenges, defeating St Helens 20–12 in the process. They also overtook Wigan in most challenges won with five.{{Cite web|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/nrl/roosters-crowned-world-club-champions-for-record-fifth-time-20200223-p543fl.html|title=Roosters crowned world club champions for record fifth time|last=McCullough|first=Ian|date=2020-02-22|website=Brisbane Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-24}}

On 20 November 2020 it was announced that the 2021 World Club challenge, which was due to be played between Melbourne Storm and St Helens would be postponed until late in 2021 owing to the push back of seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing pandemic itself preventing overseas travel.{{cite web |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/2021-world-club-challenge-postponed-with-later-dates-under-consideration/1j0yb9g5lid8j1ec52v92onp7u |title=2021 World Club Challenge postponed with later dates under consideration {{!}} Sporting News Australia |website=www.sportingnews.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126075454/https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/2021-world-club-challenge-postponed-with-later-dates-under-consideration/1j0yb9g5lid8j1ec52v92onp7u |archive-date=2021-01-26}} However, due to the continuing issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the clash between St Helens and Melbourne was completely cancelled.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/2021-world-club-challenge-postponed-with-later-dates-under-consideration/1j0yb9g5lid8j1ec52v92onp7u|title=2021 World Club Challenge postponed|date=19 November 2020 |accessdate=20 November 2020}}

In October 2021, St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus said that while he hoped the 2022 version of this fixture could go ahead against the Penrith Panthers, he acknowledged it would be “very difficult” to arrange. In November 2021 Penrith Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher said Penrith would only play if the game was played at BlueBet Stadium the Panthers home ground at the time because they didn't want to send their team to play against St Helens in England. St Helens coach Kristian Woolfe agreed on the condition that Penrith pay for the fares of the St Helens team. Penrith refused and the match was cancelled for this reason. {{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/st-helens-eamonn-mcmanus-world-club-challenge-update-penrith-panthers/|title=St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus provides update on 2022 World Club Challenge|date=25 October 2021 |accessdate=4 November 2021}} The year's competition was ultimately also cancelled.{{Cite web |title=World Club Challenge: How to watch St Helens' clash with Penrith Panthers and NRL Pre-Season Challenge games on Sky |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/12784313/world-club-challenge-how-to-watch-st-helens-clash-with-penrith-panthers-and-nrl-pre-season-challenge-games-on-sky |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}

File:World Club Challenge Penrith 2023.jpg]]

On 9 November 2022, it was announced that the World Club Challenge would make its return and be staged in Australia at BlueBet Stadium.{{Cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/12742797/st-helens-to-face-penrith-panthers-in-world-club-challenge-in-australia |title=St Helens to face Penrith Panthers in World Club Challenge in Australia |work=Sky Sports |access-date=11 November 2022 |date=9 November 2022 }} Back-to-back NRL champions Penrith Panthers would host St Helens, the Super League champions for four consecutive years.{{Cite news |last=Bower |first=Aaron |title=St Helens stun Penrith Panthers to win World Club Challenge on golden point |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/feb/18/penrith-panthers-st-helens-world-club-challenge-rugby-league-match-report |access-date=18 February 2023 |date=18 February 2023 |issn=0261-3077}} The match took place on Saturday February 18, with kick-off at 7am (GMT). For the first time in the history of the competition the match went to golden point extra time after a dramatic finale meant that the match was tied 12–12 at the full time hooter. St Helens scored the winning point with a Lewis Dodd drop goal, a shock win to become the first Super League side to win the Challenge in Australia since 1994.{{Cite news |title=St Helens stun Penrith to win World Club Challenge |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/64666651 |access-date=18 February 2023 |date=18 February 2023}} This was also the worst attended game in 23 years, falling nearly 10,000 short of the capacity of the BlueBet Stadium, the previous low attendance also involved St Helens which was held at the DW Stadium in Wigan, with only the 1997 game having a lower attendance.{{Cite news |title=world club-challenge attracts worst attendance for 23 years despite incredible st helens following |work=Total RL |url=https://www.totalrl.com/world-club-challenge-attracts-worst-attendance-for-23-years-despite-incredible-st-helens-following/ |access-date=18 September 2023 |date=20 February 2023}} Penrith would win a third consecutive NRL title while St Helens' monopoly ended as Wigan Warriors won Super League in 2023 to set up a rematch from the 1991 edition of the World Club Challenge. Penrith would fail in capturing an inaugural World Club Challenge win in 2024 as they were defeated 16-12 at the DW Stadium by Wigan,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/68337685|title=World Club Challenge: Wigan Warriors 16-12 Penrith Panthers - Cherry and Whites crowned world champions for fifth time| work=BBC Sport |access-date=24 February 2024 |date=24 February 2024 }} who equalled the Sydney Roosters' tally of five World Club Challenge wins.

Ahead of the 2024 NRL Grand Final, reports began circulating that the 2025 World Club Challenge would be at risk of being cancelled as teams that could potentially qualify (Penrith Panthers, Warrington Wolves, and Wigan Warriors) would have difficulty arranging travel to either the UK or Australia, then to the United States, with the usual date of the tournament being close to that of the 2025 Rugby League Las Vegas event.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-30 |title=World Club Challenge update: identity of Super League, NRL winners key |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/major-world-club-challenge-update-with-event-in-doubt-and-dependent-on-nrl-and-super-league-winners |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=Love Rugby League |language=en}} Following Penrith's victory in the Grand Final, thus qualification for the tournament, it was revealed that 15 or 16 February would be the latest they would play the tournament, leaving time for travel back to Australia then out to the United States, while also maximising their pre-season, citing player welfare as in issue. However, with this weekend being the opening weekend of the 2025 Super League season, the date was unlikely.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-06 |title=World Club Challenge date and location update after Penrith Panthers win |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/major-world-club-challenge-update-with-date-and-location-revealed-after-penrith-panthers-nrl-triumph |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=Love Rugby League |language=en}}

On 9th October 2024, Penrith confirmed to the NRL that they would not play the match before the start of the domestic seasons citing player welfare as the issue stating that their players were delaying their mandated leave to play in the 2024 Rugby League Pacific Championships and 2024 Samoa rugby league tour of England thus not allowing players to have an adequate preseason before the World Club Challenge. The club stated that it was open to working with the NRL for a solution to play the match, but would not as things stand currently.{{Cite web |title='Only thing that's missing': Penrith co-captain disappointed to abandon World Club Challenge {{!}} NRL {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/oct/09/penrith-panthers-nrl-abandon-world-club-challenge-isaah-yeo |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=amp.theguardian.com|date=9 October 2024 }}

Following the conclusion of the 2024 Super League Grand Final, Wigan Warriors captain Liam Farrell confirmed the champions commitment to the 2025 World Club Challenge and state that the club would be working to ensure the game goes ahead.{{Cite web |title=Now one of rugby league's greatest sides, what next for Wigan Warriors? {{!}} Super League {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/oct/13/now-one-of-rugby-leagues-greatest-sides-what-next-for-wigan-warriors |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=amp.theguardian.com|date=13 October 2024 |last1=Bower |first1=Aaron }} These words later confirmed by CEO Kris Radlinski.{{Cite web |title=Wigan Warriors still open to World Club Challenge rematch with conversations to take place, says Radlinski |date=14 October 2024 |url=https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-warriors-still-open-to-world-club-challenge-rematch-with-conversations-to-take-place-says-radlinski-4822421 |access-date=2024-11-14}}

On 16 October, Radlinski contacted the NRL and Penrith about playing the game during Magic Round (requiring the NRL to schedule one of Penrith's byes for this round),{{Cite web |title=Wigan Warriors chief Kris Radlinski open to Nathan Cleary's World Club Challenge proposal for 2025 |date=16 October 2024 |url=https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-warriors-chief-kris-radlinski-open-to-nathan-clearys-world-club-challenge-proposal-for-2025-4826345 |access-date=2024-11-14}} an idea proposed on social media by Penrith's Nathan Cleary two days prior.{{Cite web |title=Nathan Cleary: Wigan Warriors chief Kris Radlinski says every Super League club would try to sign NRL star if he considered move |work=Sky Sports |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/13233320/nathan-cleary-wigan-warriors-chief-kris-radlinski-says-every-super-league-club-would-try-to-sign-nrl-star-if-he-considered-move |access-date=2024-11-14}} However this idea never came to fruition with Penrith facing Brisbane in Magic Round.{{cite web | url=https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-warriors-chairman-remains-upbeat-despite-world-club-challenge-blow-and-still-4877555 | title=Wigan Warriors chairman remains upbeat despite World Club Challenge blow: 'And still…' | date=21 November 2024 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/world-club-challenge-cancellation-a-blow-to-calendar-with-wigan-warriors-2025-fixtures-incoming-4875989 | title=World Club Challenge cancellation a blow to calendar with Wigan Warriors 2025 fixtures incoming | date=20 November 2024 }}

In December, International Rugby League Chairman Troy Grant stated that, despite pressure, the organisation was unable to intervene or sanction Penrith for their withdrawal as the competition is ran solely by the Rugby Football League; and as Australian clubs are outside the RFL's purview, neither could the RFL.{{cite web | url=https://www.totalrl.com/irl-chair-troy-grant-on-shrinking-world-cup-northern-hemisphere-issues-and-growing-international-game/ | title=IRL chair Troy Grant on shrinking World Cup, northern hemisphere issues and growing international game – Total Rugby League }}

After the 2025 Rugby League Las Vegas event was held, there were questions as to what would happen the following year in regards to the World Club Challenge. Rhodri Jones, RL Commercial CEO, is quoted to have said "The conversation I’ve had with the NRL around World Club Challenge, is that we both want to play it. There’s a commitment the game will be on. Will it be at Vegas? I don’t know the answer to that.”{{Cite web |date=2025-03-19 |title=Super League plans for Las Vegas 2026 decision made as clubs ruled out |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/super-league-plans-for-las-vegas-2026-decision-shared-as-world-club-challenge-pledge-made |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Love Rugby League |language=en}}

18 teams have competed in the World Club Challenge with 12 teams being successful and being crowned world champions. Sydney Roosters and Wigan Warriors have currently jointly won more finals than any other team with five wins, Wigan also being the current champions (Roosters first title was prior to the club's name change from Eastern Suburbs).

;Adhoc fixture era

;Annual fixture era

The Treble, in Australian rugby league, involves winning the World Club Challenge, Grand Final, and Minor Premiership within the same season.{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2018/02/20/storm-treble-enters-the-history-books/|title=Storm treble enters the history books|work=melbournestorm.com.au|date=19 February 2018 |access-date=20 February 2018}}

NB: In British rugby league, "the treble" refers to winning the Super League Grand Final, League Leaders Shield, and Challenge Cup, however British teams are still listed here who qualify by the Australian definition.

To date the teams that have held the three titles at once are as follows:

{{Main|World Club Challenge records and statistics}}

The World Club Challenge has been sponsored sporadically since its formation.

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{World Club Challenge}}

{{NRL}}

{{Super League Europe}}

{{Club world championships}}

{{Main world championships}}

Category:Multi-national professional sports leagues