HISTORICAL GLORY FOR NATIONAL SPORTING SUPERSTAR!
International Club Rugby League:
2005
Papua New Guinea legend Marcus Bai made history on Friday 4th February 2005 becoming the first player in the world to win the World Club Challenge with two different teams, both from opposite sides of the globe.
Bai, became a 'second time world champion' when the English Super League Champions Leeds Rhinos defeated their Australasian counterparts Canterbury Bulldogs 39-32 at Elland Road Stadium in Leeds.
The Leeds Rhinos held off a late comeback by Canturbury who came within just six points of the English champions before skipper Kevin Sinfield dashed the hopes of a late win with a drop goal three minutes from time to the delight of 37,000 screaming home fans.
(Barrie MacDermott and captain Kevin Sinfield hold the trophy, see below)
Picture from Sky Sports UK.
The Rhinos' looked in devastating form in the early stages with a 12-0 lead through tries from Chev Walker on four minutes and Mark Calderwood just minutes later pouncing on the end of a Kevin Sinfield kick. Canterbury hit back with a try from Lebanese superstar Hazem El-Masri after a wonderful offload by the '2004 International Newcomer of The Year' Sonny Bill Williams.
Leeds then hit straight back with a magnificent individual try from young British Lion international talent Danny McGuire who showed the world there's more than just NZ ace Sonny Bill Williams to look at when he raced from the half-way line fooling Hazem El-Masri with a dummy pass to finish off the try. Minutes later Willie Poaching dived over the line to finish off a clever over top kick by Calderwood. The Rhinos then furthered their lead to 26-6 going into the interval with a wonder try by half-back Robbie Burrows after a combination of basketball style passing by Keith Senior and PNG star Marcus Bai. Sinfield converted to ensure Leeds when into the break with a 20-point lead.
Despite a quick try from Luke Patten in the second half, Leeds soon hit back with two more of their own through full-back Richard Mathers and Jamie-Jones Buchanan after an El-Masri mistake flopping the ball in his own in goal area gifting Jones a try.
At 38-12 ahead, it looked like Leeds had the 'World Championship' title in the bag, but four quick devastating tries from the Bulldogs looked like the Australians could win the game. El-Masri hit back with his second try of the night, minutes later sending Jamaal Lolesi over with a punching pass on the wing. Despite El-Masri's world class kicking conversion reputation 'down under', he failed to convert both his own and Lolesi's try. Canterbury skipper Tony Grimaldi then dived over with just a few minutes to score Canterbury's 5th try of the game.
With the home crowd silenced, Australian Kangaroo' international Willie Tonga sent Lolesi over for his second try with El-Masri converting on this occasion bringing the margin to just six points with eight minutes of the game left. Leeds however, kept their compsure and a late drop kick from Sinfield sealed a 39-32 world championship win for the British outfit.
This is a magnificent achievement for Papua New Guinea Kumul' international Marcus Bai who became the first player to win the World Club Challenge with two different clubs on both sides of the hemisphere, previously becoming a 'world club champion' in 2000 when Melbourne Storm thrashed St Helens 48-6 at JJB Stadium in Wigan.
< PNG star Marcus Bai makes world champion history.