Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has called for NRL clubs to show more respect for the World Club Challenge.
Robinson’s side became the first to successfully defend the title with a 20-12 win over St Helens at a sold-out Totally Wicked Stadium on Saturday, in an absorbing clash played at with finals-like intensity.
It was the fifth time the Roosters have won the title, the most by any club, and the 10th time an NRL side has won the annual match against the Super League champions in the past 12 meetings.
Robinson – who spent two years coaching in Super League at Catalans – has been a big supporter of the match, which has often been greeted in lukewarm fashion by NRL clubs.
Canterbury, Canberra, and Melbourne have all stated in previous years that they would not travel to the UK to play in a fixture which is still is not officially set in stone at the start of each season by the NRL and Super League.
Robinson maintains the match is hugely significant for the growth of rugby league and wants the NRL to take a leaf out of St Helens’ book and make the match a showpiece event when hosted in Australia.
“The spectacle that St Helens put on tonight was amazing, it felt like a finals game,” Robinson said.
“It’s such a privilege to come to this ground and play the World Club Challenge here.
“Hats off to them.
“You walk out there, the light show is on, the fires going, the south stand is singing, it’s what footy is about.
“You want to come here and cross cultures and that’s what we’ve done, what an amazing experience for everyone.”
The Roosters welcomed Wigan in 2014 at the Sydney Football Stadium and Melbourne hosted Leeds in 2018 but both matches were played in a relatively low-key manner.
Robinson believes the match is better served by being played in England but wants the NRL to host one every four years and make it a big occasion.
“We’ve got to make sure it’s properly organised,” he said.
“I’d like to have three here (in the UK) and one in Australia and it can be done.
“We shouldn’t have to decide if it will be played at all at the end of every year.
“We had 30,000 in the Wigan game in 2014 but we didn’t put on the spectacle they have put on over here for the last couple of years.
“We’d have to do it much better than we currently do it.
“I have said it a lot and (NRL CEO) Todd Greenberg was here tonight giving his support which was good.
“We are getting close, we just have to get the foot down on it to make sure it becomes well organised and that we know each year when it is happening and leave it to the clubs to organise.
“We need to make a world champion feel to this game.”
