By TERRY LIBEROPOULOS
BRISBANE Broncos will take on English champions Hull Kingston Rovers in February in the World Club Challenge game.
The World Club Challenge has now been a regular fixture on the rugby league calendar for close to 40 years but it was something new when Sydney premiers Eastern Suburbs took on English 1974-75 champions St Helens in 1976.
It was common for English clubs to play French clubs in challenge matches and the same applied for Sydney clubs against those from Auckland and other parts of New Zealand.
It was Queensland Rugby League supremo Ron McAuliffe that got things moving by suggesting that Queensland play St Helens but asked Easts if they would also play them in order to make sure the long trip was worthwhile for the English club.
St Helens were given the green light by the English Rugby Football League in April 1976 to make the trek Down Under.
St Helens finished fourth in the 1975-76 season behind champions Salford, Featherstone Rovers and Leeds. But they defeated Salford 15-2 in the Premiership Trophy and won the Challenge Cup final after proving too good for Widnes 20-5 at Wembley Stadium.
In their opening match of their tour, Queensland came from 15-6 down with 20 minutes remaining to run out 21-15 winners before a crowd estimated at 11,000 at Lang Park in Brisbane. The Saints produced a number of high tackles that saw them lose the penalty count 14-2. In fact, they didn’t receive one penalty in the second half.
The Jack Gibson-coached Roosters thrashed the Newtown Bluebags 40-4 at the Sports Ground on Saturday, June 26. Three days later, they were scheduled to take on St Helens at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The most notable change to the Roosters World Club Challenge squad from the 1975 Grand Final was the return of fullback Russell Fairfax. He broke his leg three weeks before the decider and missed out on playing in the grand final.
In the actual team that played that day, Robert Laurie joined Greg Townsend, John Mayes and Grant Hedger on the bench. Trevor Barnes moved to five-eighth with Barry Reilly moving to lock. Elwyn Walters came in as hooker and Ian Mackay replaced Greg White.
Many of the St Helens players were over the age of 30 and it showed on the field as Eastern Suburbs ran riot to win 25-2 before nearly 27,000 spectators.
Tricolours captain Arthur Beetson was the star of the show, claiming the man-of-the-match award and also accept the $5000 winner’s cheque after his side’s victory. The Roosters led 12-0 at half-time and produced another three in the second half to secure the easy win.
St Helens finished the tour on July 4Â when they went down 20-13 to an Auckland representative side before 13,000 fans at Carlaw Park.
With Easts dominating the game which was actually billed as the World Club Championship, it wasn’t until 1987 that the World Club Challenge was mentioned again. That led to Wigan taking on Manly at Central Park, this time the English club proving they could beat the Australians.
EASTERN SUBURBS 25 (Royce Ayliffe, Russell Fairfax, Ian Schubert, Kevin Stevens, Greg Townsend tries; John Brass 5 goals) bt ST HELENS 2 (Geoff Pimblett goal) at Sydney Cricket Ground, June 29, 1976. Referee: Garry Cook. Crowd: 26,856.
EASTS: Russell Fairfax, Ian Schubert, Mark Harris, John Brass, Bill Mullins, Trevor Barnes, Kevin Stevens, Ken Jones, Elwyn Waters, Royce Ayliffe, Ian Mackay, Arthur Beetson (c), Barry Reilly.
Replacements: Robert Laurie, Johnny Mayes, Grant Hedger, Greg Townsend.
Coach: Jack Gibson.
SAINTS: Geoff Pimblett, Les Jones, Eddie Cunningham, Derek Noonan, Roy Mathias, Billy Benyon, Ken Gwillian, John Mantle, Tony Karalius, Kel Coslett (c), George Nicholls, Eric Chisnall, David Hull.
Replacements: Jeff Heaton, Frank Wilson, Mel James, Peter Glynn.
Coach: Eric Ashton.