The 2012 World Club Challenge (also known due to sponsorship as the Heinz Big Soup World Club Challenge) was the thirteenth consecutive World Club Challenge and was contested by Super League XVI champions, Leeds Rhinos and 2011 NRL Premiers, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
Background Leeds Rhinos
Leeds had finished the 2011 Super League season in 5th place before making their way to the Grand Final with wins over Hull F.C. (42–10), Huddersfield (34–28) and Warrington (26–24). In the Super League Grand Final, Leeds defeated St. Helens 32–16.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles finished the 2011 NRL season in 2nd place and went on to defeat the 6th placed New Zealand Warriors 24–10 in the Grand Final. To get to their 3rd Grand Final appearance since 2007, Manly defeated North Queensland 42–8, and the Brisbane Broncos 24–14.
Following the off-season, they lost one trial match against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 6–36 before flying to England for the World Club Challenge. Unlike 2009, Manly would not play a warm up game while in England.
Teams
FB 1Brent WebbRW 2Ben Jones-BishopRC 6Kallum WatkinsLC 4Zak HardakerLW 5Ryan HallSO 13Kevin Sinfield (c)SH 6Danny McGuirePR 8Kylie LeuluaiHK 7Rob BurrowPR 10Jamie PeacockSR 11Jamie Jones-BuchananSR 15Brett DelaneyLF 12Carl AblettSubstitutions:IC 9Paul McShaneIC 20Darrell GriffinIC 16Ryan BaileyIC 18Chris ClarksonCoach: Brian McDermott FB 1Brett StewartRW 2David WilliamsRC 3Jamie Lyon (c)LC 4Steve MataiLW 5Michael OldfieldFE 6Kieran ForanHB 7Daly Cherry-EvansPR 8Jason KingHK 9Matt BallinPR 10Brent KiteSR 11Anthony WatmoughSR 12Tony WilliamsLK 13Glenn StewartSubstitutions:IC 14Jamie BuhrerIC 15Vic MauroIC 16Darcy LussickIC 17George RoseCoach: Geoff Toovey
Match details
The game was highlighted by Ryan Hall's 90-metre intercept try off a Brett Stewart pass midway through the first half to give Leeds a 10–0 lead.2012 World Club Challenge highlights Leeds' win in front of a full house at Headingley saw them get revenge for their 28–20 loss to Manly in the 2009 World Club Challenge at Elland Road.
References
External links Manly keen to take on Rhinos down under from https://web.archive.org/web/20120618105021/http://www.rleague.com//db/player/h/houston_chris/index.php 2012 World Club Challenge at maoritelevision.com