1989 World Club Challenge

English–Australian rugby league match June 2020 1989 World Club Challenge Old Trafford march 1992.JPG 250px Old Trafford hosted the match Widnes Canberra Raiders RFL NSWRL WID Widnes 16 CAN Canberra Raiders 16 10 20 30 12 6 18 4 October 1989 Old Trafford Manchester, England David Hulme Widnes 16 Man of the Match Francois Desplas FRA 30,786 BBC1 GBR Network Ten AUS Ray French Alex Murphy World Club Challenge 1987 1991 The 1989 World Club Challenge (known for sponsorship reasons as the Foster's World Club Challenge) was the third ever and first official World Club Challenge match. 1989's NSWRL season premiers, the Canberra Raiders travelled to England to play 1988–89 RFL champions, Widnes. Background The project of an official World Club Championship made its way to the press in early 1988,McNamara Jack 18 January 1988 https://www.newspapers.com/image/935976869/ Hands off our stars Manchester Evening News 43 and was further delineated during a meeting between RFL general secretary David Oxley and ARL president/IRLB director general Ken Arthurson in Hawaii.Whalley John 22 January 1988 https://www.newspapers.com/image/751110259/ Game goes worldwide with Los Angeles final The Daily Telegraph London 29Burke David 27 February 1988 https://www.newspapers.com/image/935998698/ Andy perfect for gridiron Manchester Evening News 1920 February 1988 https://www.newspapers.com/image/898773755/ R.L. widens horizons Hull Daly Mail 7Woodhead Les 23 January 1988 https://www.newspapers.com/image/797138902/ The world at their feet Liverpool Echo 9 Reception was mostly positive, with star player Andy Gregory calling it "an excellent idea",Burke David 30 January 1988 https://www.newspapers.com/image/935984565/ Andy Gregory talks to David Burke Manchester Evening News 18 while Manchester Evening News pundit Jack McNamara liked it due to Japan's relative familiarity with rugby union.Murphy Alex 20 January 1988 https://www.newspapers.com/image/935978158/ Interview: Jack McNamara Manchester Evening News 41 The suggested format originally included two eliminators, one for the northern hemisphere between the British and French champions, and another in the southern hemisphere between the champions of Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. These eliminators would then be followed by a grand final played in Tokyo, Japan. The climactic game was slated for May 1989. 14 April 1988 Now Champs go for Cleal https://www.newspapers.com/image/932896625/ Widnes Weekly News 64 However, in mid-October 1988, the Australians withdrew from the competition. One reason was the absence of commitment from a television broadcaster.Burke David 19 October 1988 https://www.newspapers.com/image/936080867/ Aborigines tour plan Manchester Evening News 79 Another was that no stadium could be booked in Tokyo due to pressures from the Japanese Rugby Football Union. An alternate venue was found in Fukuoka, but Ken Arthurson opposed the move to avoid unfavorable comparisons to the Australian Football League, which had played its Japanese games in the capital. 26 November 1988 Widnes seek date https://www.newspapers.com/image/936245031/ Manchester Evening News 11 The RFL was greatly displeased. It lodged a protest with the IRLB, and promised to formally demand that the tournament proceed in 1990. It also mentioned China as a viable option to replace Japan.Hatfield Dave 19 October 1988 https://www.newspapers.com/image/120545818/ Club snub angers British League chiefs The Sydney Morning Herald 80 Despite the lack of an official IRLB sanction, RFL representatives Widnes announced that they would bypass governing bodies and approach then Australian champions Canterbury-Bankstown directly to face them in an unofficial world championship. To entice the Australian side, Liverpool's Anfield stadium was touted as a potential venue. A single game and a home-and-home were both considered, with the Australian game potentially part of a three-week tour that would also see Widnes play regional selects teams. 20 October 1988 Widnes aim for Anfield https://www.newspapers.com/image/120547438/ The Sydney Morning Herald 53 17 November 1988 Sydney Showdown https://www.newspapers.com/image/932900634/ Widnes Weekly News 56 However the two clubs could not agree on a common date, with Canterbury favoring February and Widnes preferring May. A few days later, it was confirmed that these efforts were abandoned. 1 December 1988 Chemics Hotline https://www.newspapers.com/image/932900786/ Widnes Weekly News 56 Interest from the Australians was rumored to have picked up again after Widnes signed highly regarded rugby union defector Jonathan Davies in a blockbuster deal, providing the competition with a more tangible promotional angle in the southern hemisphere. Canterbury-Bankstown reached out to Widnes in January to meet them at the end of the English season, but it was too late to accommodate them.McNamara Jack 12 January 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/936028965/ Widnes ko Aussie bid Manchester Evening News 79 The competition was re-introduced at the IRLB's annual convention on 2 May 1989, where it finally garnered official approval.Whalley John 3 May 1989 World Cup for Britain's centennial celebrations https://www.newspapers.com/image/751375227/ The Daily Telegraph London 41Fitzpatrick Paul 16 May 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/260194305/ Widnes challenge Aussies The Guardian London 14 Foster's was announced as title sponsor and a prize money of £50,000 was allocated. 16 May 1989 New Widnes Challenge https://www.newspapers.com/image/898984998/ Hull Daily Mail 33 The BBC's Sportsnight committed to show the game's highlights. The eventual date and location, October 4 at Old Trafford, were also chosen at that time.McNamara Jack 15 May 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/936042852 Widnes world club jackpot Manchester Evening News 48 Road to WCC Widnes 1989 European Club Challenge Coach Doug Laughton's team had won many admirers throughout England for their free-flowing, attacking style of rugby. At this time player poaching from rugby union was at a level not seen in decades, and the Chemics benefited from a board flush with cash. Three members of their back division all came from the amateur code. Alan Tait started in union for Scotland but had grown up around league as his father played for Workington Town in the Borders. Jonathan Davies cited a need to provide for a young family and heavy pressure as Wales five-eighth as his motivation for accepting a then-record £230,000 signing fee. Finally Martin Offiah had scored 100 tries in 76 matches for Widnes to become the game’s hottest property. Combining with home-grown talents like Andy Currier, the Hulme brothers and Tony Myler, the Chemics scored 726 points in the 1988–89 league, winning the title over Wigan by three points.June 2020 Although Widnes came into the World Club Challenge having won its second straight Stones Bitter League Championship, contemporary press indicates that the club had secured its status as English representatives in the long-in-doubt event by virtue of its first place in the 1987–88 league standings.Laybourn Ian 5 April 1988 https://www.newspapers.com/image/807142175/ Only one point needed Huddersfield Daily Examiner 12 [...]leaders Widnes need just one point from next Sunday's visit to Hunslet to ensure a £20,000 payday, a world club championship playoff [...] While the Oceanian qualifier mooted at an early stage did not take place, the European Club Challenge between English and French representatives did proceed on 27 May 1989, albeit under less than ideal circumstances. After the intended opponents, 1987–88 French champions Le Pontet XIII, dropped out, Widnes trounced their replacements St. Estève 60–6.1 June 1996 https://www.newspapers.com/image/933497869/ Kings of Europe! But it's too easy for wonderful Widnes Widnes Weekly News 30–31 Canberra Raiders The 1989 NSWRL season was the 8th in the history of Australian club the Canberra Raiders. Coached by Tim Sheens and captained by Australian international centre Mal Meninga, the Raiders finished the minor rounds in 4th spot. They then won through to their second ever Grand Final (after playing in the 1987 game) where they made history by not only being the first team to win the premiership from 4th spot or lower after defeating Balmain in the Grand Final, but also by becoming the first non-Sydney team to win the premiership in its history dating back to 1908.June 2020 Canberra Raiders would go on to win back to back Premierships in 1990. Rosters _blackshoulders _blackcollar _blackshoulders _band_black FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 000000 FFFFFF Widnes _Canberra1990s _Canberra1980s _Canberra1990s _Canberra1990s BFFF00 BFFF00 BFFF00 FFFFFF BFFF00 Canberra Raiders FB 1Alan TaitRW 2Andy CurrierCE 3Jonathan DaviesCE 4Darren WrightLW 5Martin OffiahSO 6Tony MylerSH 7David HulmePR 8Joe GrimaHK 9Phil McKenziePR 10Derek PykeSR 11Kurt Sorensen (c)SR 12Paul HulmeLF 13Richard EyresSubstitutions:IC 14Barry DowdIC 15Paul MoriartyIC 16Brimah KebbieIC 17David SmithCoach:ENG Doug Laughton FB 1Gary Belcher RW 2Matthew WoodCE 3Mal Meninga (c)CE 4Laurie DaleyLW 5John FergusonFE 6Chris O'SullivanHB 7Ricky StuartPR 8Steve JacksonHK 9Steve WaltersPR 10Glenn LazarusSR 11Dean LanceSR 12Gary CoyneLK 13Bradley ClydeSubstitutions:IC 14Phil CareyIC 15Paul MartinIC 16Mark LowryIC 17Craig BellamyCoach:AUS Tim Sheens Details #eeeeee Widnes Widnes 16 Canberra 16 Canberra Raiders 30 – 18 1989 WCC - Widnes vs Canberra Tries: Martin Offiah (2) Jonathan Davies Richard Eyres Paul Hulme Darren Wright Goals: Jonathan Davies (3) Tries: Mal Meninga Chris O'Sullivan Steve Walters Goals: Matthew Wood (2) Chris O'Sullivan (1) Wednesday 4 October Old Trafford, Manchester 30,786 Francois Desplas FRA David Hulme Widnes 16 The match was played on Wednesday, 4 October at Old Trafford, Manchester. A crowd of 30,786September 2026 saw an all-action game of two halves, with a Mal Meninga-inspired Canberra opening up a 12-0 lead by playing a brand of rugby that BBC commentator Ray French described as "like basketball". However Widnes' offload game would bring them back into the match, with tries by Offiah and Paul Hulme both coming as a result of good late passes to make it 12-10 at the interval. The match turned in the second half when Jonathan Davies was clothes-lined across the chin by Laurie Daley in the act of scoring a try: Daley could call himself lucky to only be given a sin-bin by the French referee. Widnes took full advantage of having the extra man by crossing the Stretford End try-line twice courtesy of Offiah and Eyres, before Darren Wright completed a length of the field try under the posts to complete the rout. Steve Walters scored a valedictory four-pointer for the Australians. Sheen backs Tigers to shine Yorkshire Post UK Johnston Press Digital Publishing 1 February 2006 http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/Sheen-backs-Tigers-to-shine.1333758.jp 23 October 2010 David Hulme was named man-of-the-match. References External links World Club Series: When Widnes ruled the rugby league world BBC Sport https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/rugby-league/35581515 1989 World Club Challenge at eraofthebiff.com 1989 World Club Challenge at rugby.widnes.tv 1989 Category:Canberra Raiders matches Category:Widnes Vikings matches Category:1989 in English rugby league Category:1989 in Australian rugby league Category:1989 rugby league matches