The 2016 World Club Series (also known as the 2016 Dacia World Club Series due to sponsorship by Dacia) was the second edition of the World Club Series and saw three Super League teams and three National Rugby League (NRL) teams participate. The series included the World Club Challenge, a one-off match between the champions of the Super League and NRL.
Background Qualification for the Super League teams was changed to include the Challenge Cup winners, as well as the League Leaders and Grand Final winner. As the Leeds Rhinos claimed all three possible qualification positions, the Super League Board decided to invite Super League semi-finalist St Helens to take part in the series.Clubs confirmed for 2016 World Club Series , superleague.co.uk, 8 October 2015
The three National Rugby League teams were announced as the champion North Queensland Cowboys, the Brisbane Broncos, who were defeated in the grand final, and the minor premier Sydney Roosters.
Series details
WinnersScoreRunners-up NRL3 - 0 Super League
Game 1: Fourth vs Minor Premiers The match celebrated the 40th anniversary of the inaugural World Club Challenge, which involved both teams.
Game 2: Grand Final runners-up Game 2 was a repeat of last year's fixture, where Brisbane Broncos won 14-12 in golden point extra time.
World Club Challenge
This was the first time the two clubs had met since the 1997 World Club Championship tournament.
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds won the Treble in 2015 in their most successful season. They beat Wigan Warriors 22-20 in the Grand Final to qualify for their 7th World Club Challenge.
North Queensland Cowboys
The Cowboys won their first premiership in 2015, which was their 20th anniversary. They beat the Brisbane Broncos in extra time of a dramatic grand final to qualify for their first World Club Challenge.
Teams + 2016 World Club Challenge teamsLeeds RhinosPositionNorth QueenslandCowboys Zak Hardaker Fullback Lachlan Coote Ash Handley Winger Kyle Feldt Kallum Watkins Centre Justin O'Neill Joel Moon Centre Kane Linnett Ryan Hall Winger Antonio Winterstein Liam Sutcliffe Five-eighth Michael Morgan Jordan Lilley Halfback Johnathan Thurston (c) Adam Cuthbertson Prop Matthew Scott (c) Rob Burrow (c) Hooker Jake Granville Keith Galloway Prop James Tamou Brett Ferres Second row Gavin Cooper Brett Delaney Second row Ethan Lowe Brad Singleton Lock Jason Taumalolo Mitch Garbutt Interchange Rory Kostjasyn Jimmy Keinhorst Interchange John Asiata Anthony Mullally Interchange Scott Bolton Josh Walters Interchange Ben Hannant Brian McDermott Coach Paul Green
References