It was the battle of the hemispheres, the cream of the NRL against Super League´s top cat as Aussie Champions Penrith Panthers hosted the dominators of the British game St Helens for the World Club Challenge.
Due to COVID this is the first time that the challenge has been played since 2020, when Saints lost out to the Sydney Roosters at the Totally Wicked Stadium. Saints hadn´t won a WCC since 2007 when they beat the Brisbane Broncos by 18-14 while Penrith were still seeking their first victory after suffering defeats in 1991 and 2004 to Wigan and Bradford.
The home side were big favourites for the win with few pundits giving the Saints any chance of even getting near their opponents.
As rain welcomed the two sides onto the field with AC/DC sounding around the stadium in typical Aussie fashion, it took just thirty second before the first confrontation with both teams pushing and shoving in the melee.
After withstanding three sets inside their own twenty, Penrith sounded an early warning as they turned defence into attack with a move which saw them down to the Saints try line in a handful of tackles as the rain intensified.
With eight minutes on the clock Saints opened the scoring with a sensational break downfield for seventy metres. Jonny Lomax and Curtis Sironen combined to split the Panthers defence before a ball inside to Jack Welsby who turned on the after-burners and sprinted to the line to score under the sticks. Tommy Makinson added the extra two, Saints showing that they weren´t here to make up the numbers.
Brilliant Saints defence held Nathan Cleary up over the line five minutes later and as he tried to ground the ball he lost possession.
On sixteen the Saints were in again as Konrad Hurrell took a Welsby pass five out from the line and embarrassed the Panthers defence to dive over in the corner. Makinson pushed his conversion attempt wide of the near upright, Saints with a 10-0 lead to the sounds of thunder in the distance.
On twenty-five Will Hopoate dropped a Cleary bomb on his own ten metre line but great covering back by Lewis Dodd on the last tackle saw him boot the ball into the crowd to deny Penrith, Tommy Makinson getting a head knock during the set and being withdrawn from proceedings after a failed HIA.
It was a Herculean effort from Saints to keep the Panthers pointless in the first half, but as the sides went into the sheds you could be certain that the home side would redouble their efforts in the second forty.
The second half was delayed due to lightening but when the game did get back underway Saints took advantage of two early penalties to kick a goal, from the boot of Mark Percival on forty-three to extend the lead to two converted tries.
On fifty-two Penrith broke their duck as three players chased a Cleary kick and with Welsby unable to knock the ball dead Izavk Tago dived on the loose ball to ground in goal. Cleary added the conversion to half the deficit, now it was game on.
Lomax attempted a drop goal on seventy-two but his kick drifted wide of the uprights, Saints desperate to extend the margin knowing full well that Penrith could strike in an instant.
Three minutes from time Saints set up for another drop goal but as the ball was passed back Saints forwards obstructed the Penrith blockers and the Aussie Grand Final winners were awarded a penalty.
Ninety seconds from time a bomb was dropped was knocked-on by Welsby under pressure with the ball quickly moved wide to Brian To´o to score in the corner. Nathan Cleary added the conversion under pressure to level the scores with just seconds remaining.
The final hooter sounded entry into Golden Point.
With two minutes and forty-five seconds passed the golden point clock Lewis Dodd managed to retain the composure to slot over the drop goal to seal the win as his team mates and the travelling crowd from St Helens to go bonkers as they picked up a well deserved win.
A fabulous game played two evenly matched side at top speed with some massive hits. A brilliant advert for rugby league, broadcast on UK terrestrial TV by Channel 4 for the masses, which served as a superb appetiser for both the Super League and NRL seasons ahead.
Saints crowned the best in the World, against all of the odds, bringing the trophy back to the UK.
Penrith Panthers: Crichton, May, Tago (T), Turuva, To´o (T), Luai, Cleary (2G), Leota, Kenny, Fisher, Harris, Garner, Hosking, Yeo. Subs: Cogger, Eisenhuth, Leniu, Salmon. 18th Man: Smith.
St Helens: Welsby (T), Makinson (G), Hurrell (T), Percival (G), Hopoate, Lomax, Dodd, Walmsley, Roby, Lees, Mata´utia, Sironen, Knowles. Subs: Lussick, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Paasi, Bell. 18th Man: Wingfield.
Half-Time: 0-10.
Full-Time: 12-12. Golden Point: 12-13.
Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 0-10 : HT : 0-12, 4-12, 6-12, 10-12, 12-12: FT :12-13 : Golden Point.
Lead Exchanges: St Helens – Square - Saints.
Referee: Ashley Klein.
