World Club Challenge 2013
Saturday, 22nd February, 20:00
Headingley Carnegie
Leeds Rhinos v Melbourne Storm
The Leeds Faithful will have to be out in force (Famous South Stand)
Leeds are current Super League Champions and are also World Champions after beating Manly 26-12 in 2012 in which I put Manly up but after just 10 minutes you could see what was about to happen. Manly were way off the pace from the start and Leeds punished a somewhat shadow of a team which i watch win the NRL Grand Final beating New Zealand Warriors 24-10 in 2011. This game plans to be a cracker and I am hoping that Melbourne turn up in 2 weeks time and actually play to their full potential and if they do that they will win this seasons World Club Challenge.
2013 will break records with both clubs aiming to become World Champions again, Leeds have beat Melbourne 3 times and will be looking to make it 4 in 2 weeks time but Melbourne will be looking to be the first overseas club to win 3 World Club Challenge matches putting them in the shame bracket as Bradford, Leeds and Wigan. Melbourne will equal Brisbane’s 4th time in a World final and Leeds will surpass Wigan’s record of 5 so this is a match with lots at stake other than stats and bench marks, this is a marker to see who is the best team in the world.
If you had to give one plus to Leeds it is that the Super League season has already started and they would have played 3 games running up to the World Club Challenge, whereas Melbourne are still a few weeks away from the start of the NRL season which could well play its part, another factor is the ” Jet Lag ” I was reading something today about they had a 24 hr trip and arrived at 5 am and instead of letting them get some shut-eye they had to stay awake that whole day and had someone going around their rooms waking the players up to make sure they are fine tuned and ready for this seasons World Club Challenge.
I’ve had different views about this seasons World Club Challenge and 1 thing which is for sure, Leeds are a different team playing at Headingley and gain respect for that but if you have the likes of Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith amongst your ranks you have a chance beating any team in any venue and this is why I’m edging towards the Storm in 2013. Leeds have class in many areas but going through both sets of teams Melbourne have a little bit more quality in selected areas and for me this is something which could win them this game. If anyone watched Cas v Leeds on Sunday a stat which stuck out for me was Leeds had a 50% completion rate which is handing the ball over every other set and if they are to beat Melbourne on the 22nd they will need something like an 85% completion rate, if they are to lift this seasons World Club Challenge.
If Melbourne can adjust quickly to GMT and the British conditions they have a great chance to win this season World Club Challenge. I’ve not been amazed by Leeds this season, Ok they looked good against Hull on the opening day but last week in the mud against Castleford things looked different, it was an old-fashioned game of rugby league and it suited Castleford’s game plan and with Salford traveling to Headingley this weekend Leeds will not have had the greatest of build ups but I for one don’t like backing against Leeds at Headingley but backing Melbourne Storm 4/5 is too good to turn down. Melbourne beat Leeds 18-10 the last time these 2 team played and the handicap should be closer to Leeds +4 for me and backing the 4/5 is a must.
Will we see a repeat in 2013 for the Melbourne Storm?
BET: Melbourne 4/5
Man Of The Match: Billy Slater 8/1
burnzysbets 