Sydney Roosters - World Club Champions.

The Sydney Roosters have emerged from Reebok Stadium in Bolton, England as World Club Champions, after a comprehensive defeat of the British Super League titleholders St Helens. The final score was 38-nil.

Reversing a recent trend of World Club Challenge victories by British sides, the Roosters endured a closely fought half-hour before turning the match in their favour. Both sides were successful in offloading the ball, and St Helens in particular were threatening down the short side. Only desperate defence by the Roosters prevented the Saints from scoring a number of tries. Until the 33rd minute mark, just three penalty goals from Sydney and Australian Test forward Craig Fitzgibbon separated the two teams.

Although the Roosters struggled with referee Russell Smith’s interpretation of what constituted a dominant tackle, it was the Saints that found themselves on the wrong end of the penalty scoreboard thanks to a number of high tackles. Of note was a late and dangerous shot to the jaw of Rooster’s half Brett Finch by ex-Bulldog Barry Ward. In the regular NRL or Super League season, the act would certainly have earned Ward a lengthy suspension.

In the 33rd minute, the floodgates opened for the Ricky Stuart coached Roosters. From a Chris Flannery kick, Craig Fitzgibbon added to his personal points tally with a soft try near the posts. Fitzgibbon then extended his side’s lead to 12 point with a simple conversion. Four minutes later, after a skilful backline movement, the ball was turned back inside for the Roosters sole English import, Adrian Morley, to score a well-earned try. Morley was active in attack and intimidating in defence during most of the first half.

With yet another conversion from Fitzgibbon, the Roosters enjoyed a comfortable 18-nil lead when the half-time whistle sounded.

During the half-time break, St Helens’ coach Ian Millward was searching for answers to the sudden avalanche of points. His side had shown promise, but despite creative forays by scrum-base trio Paul Sculthorpe, Sean Long, and Tommy Martyn, the Saints had failed to pierce the Roosters tight defensive line. Only admirable defence of their own, by the British sides’ Aussie imports Darren Albert and Darren Smith, had prevented the gap in the score exceeding 18 points.

In the Roosters’ shed, Ricky Stuart was pleased with the performance of Brett Finch and Chris Flannery who were required to take the place of 2002 Grand Final halves Brett Fittler and Craig Wing. Fittler spent a considerable time on the sideline receiving treatment on a nasty cut to his scalp, and Craig Wing left the game, not to return, due to an ankle injury midway through the first half.

The second half began similarly to the first, with 13 minutes elapsing before the Rooster’s Todd Byrne scored a controversial try. The Roosters half, Brett Finch, was deemed by the video referees not to have played at a ball that hit his arm and travelled forward, after coming loose from Sean Long. Finch gathered the ball from the ground and sent Byrne under the posts to extend the Roosters’ lead to 24 point.

The Roosters continued their domination with further tries to captain Brad Fittler and Todd Payten. Craig Fitzgibbon added the extras each time, to end the match with a spotless 9-from-9 record, and a personal points haul of 22.

The only promising moment for the Saints’ supporters was a barrelling charge up the middle by Barry Ward that ended disappointingly with the substitute forward being held up over the line by three Roosters.

In contradiction to the points-heavy shoreline, the game was won not so much by the Sydneysiders attacking flair, but more from their uncompromising defensive efforts and fitness. Despite numerous opportunities inside the Roosters’ 20-metre area, the spirited Saints were unable to cross. Even when turned around midfield by a St. Helens line break, the Roosters’ fitness shone through and enabled the bulk of the side to rush back and reform their line. The rewards of pre-season fitness work were also on display in a consistently effective kick and chase game by Ricky Stuart’s side.

It was an admirable and impressive victory by the Sydney Roosters given the lack of a preparation match and the difficulties involved in contesting the title on English soil. The Roosters proved today that they are more than worthy of their new status as world champions, and a serious threat to make it two NRL Telstra Premierships in a row.