2003 World Club Challenge

2003 (2003) World Club Challenge  ()
The Reebok Stadium hosted the match
St. Helens Sydney Roosters (SL) (NRL) 0 38
1 2 Total ST H 0 0 0 SYD 18 20 38
Date	14 February 2003
Stadium	Reebok Stadium
Location	Bolton, England
Man of the Match	Craig Fitzgibbon
Referee	Russell Smith
Attendance	19,807
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters	Sky Sports
Commentators	Eddie Hemmings Mike Stephenson
World Club Challenge ← 2002 2004 →

The 2003 World Club Challenge match was contested on Sunday, 16 February by National Rugby League season 2002 premiers, the Sydney Roosters and Super League VII premiers, St. Helens. 19,807 spectators turned out at Bolton's Reebok Stadium for the match, which was refereed by Russell Smith.

This was the first time the two clubs had played each other since the inaugural World Club Challenge game at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1976. On that occasion the Roosters, then known as Eastern Suburbs (as it was a Sydney only competition at the time), defeated St Helens 25-2. The attendance on that occasion was 26,856.^{[citation needed]}

Background

St Helens

Sydney Roosters

Match summary

14 February 2003

St. Helens	0 – 38	Sydney Roosters
Tries: Goals:	(Report)	Tries: Craig Fitzgibbon Adrian Morley Todd Byrne Brad Fittler Todd Payten Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon (9)

Reebok Stadium, Bolton Attendance: 19,807 Referee: Russell Smith Player of the Match: Craig Fitzgibbon

Teams

The Roosters went into the Challenge making only one change in their starting lineup (Todd Byrne went on to the wing for the retired Brett Mullins). In the end, though, it made no difference as the Sydney Roosters ran out comprehensive 0-38 champions over the Saints outfit. Tries to Craig Fitzgibbon, Adrian Morley, new input Todd Byrne, captain Brad Fittler and Todd Payten plus the 9 goals from Fitzgibbon completed a wonderful season for the Sydney Roosters.^{[citation needed]}

St Helens

Sydney Roosters

FB 5 Anthony Stewart LW 2 Darren Albert RC 3 Martin Gleeson LC 4 Paul Newlove RW 19 Ade Gardner SO 20 Tommy Martyn SH 7 Sean Long PR 8 Darren Britt HK 6 Jason Hooper PR 10 John Stankevitch SR 11 Chris Joynt (c) SR 12 Darren Smith LF 13 Paul Sculthorpe Substitutions: IC 14 Barry Ward IC 15 Tim Jonkers IC 9 Mickey Higham IC 17 Mark Edmondson Coach: Ian Millward

FB 1 Anthony Minichiello RW 2 Todd Byrne LC 3 Chris Flannery RC 4 Justin Hodges LW 5 Shannon Hegarty FE 6 Brad Fittler (c) HB 7 Craig Wing PR 8 Jason Cayless HK 17 Michael Crocker PR 10 Peter Cusack SR 11 Adrian Morley SR 12 Craig Fitzgibbon LK 13 Luke Ricketson Substitutions: IC 14 Ned Catic IC 15 Todd Payten IC 16 Chad Robinson IC 9 Brett Finch Coach: Ricky Stuart

See also

• World Club Challenge

External links

• 2003 World Club Challenge at rugbyleagueproject.com
• 2003 World Club Challenge at rlphotos.com
• 2003 World Club Challenge at superleague.co.uk